Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
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Iran's Presidential Election Heats up Amidst Vienna Talks
As Iran's presidential elections ramp-up, the latest round of the Vienna negotiations to restore the nuclear deal ended this week without agreement. The delegations returned to their capitals for further consultations, but the rhetoric from all sides continues to be positive and suggests a deal is imminent. The European Union’s representative at the talks Enrique Mora said [[link removed]] he is "sure" a deal will be reached next week, when the sides reconvene in the Austrian capital.
What remains unclear is if and how Iran's June 18th presidential elections [[link removed]] could impact the timeline for an agreement--and whether Rouhani's successor will have the same level of political will to strike an agreement with the United States.
📌 Learn More
📖 Read about #IranElection2021: the Players, Issues & Impacts [[link removed]]
🎧 Listen: NIAC's Sina Toossi joins The Iran Podcast to discuss Iran's upcoming presidential election [[link removed]]
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Urge Rep. Lieu: Stop Politicizing COVID Vaccines [[link removed]]
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) represents one of the largest groups of Iranian Americans in the country, with his district encompassing western Los Angeles. So it was shocking to see his tweet yesterday [[link removed]] arguing for politicizing global vaccine distribution, and putting Iranians at the back of the line. Nationality should not be a determination for whether or not you are worthy of a vaccine. And suggesting otherwise, as Rep. Lieu did today, only serves to dehumanize Iranians here and abroad.
🚨 Take action and urge him to retract this dangerous statement > [[link removed]]
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NIAC Sends Letter to Biden Encouraging Accuracy in Referencing Persian Gulf [[link removed]]
Last week, NIAC sent a letter to President Biden expressing concern and dismay at the President’s recent use of the term “Arabian Gulf” instead of the historically accurate Persian Gulf. While there are many pressing issues ongoing, we cannot let the use of terms like the “Arabian Gulf” become normalized in American discourse. Using any term other than the Persian Gulf to refer to this body of water is a dangerous act of historical revisionism. Read the full letter here > [[link removed]]
Building Political Power
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NIAC Action Endorses Two Candidates in Virginia Races
NIAC Action has endorsed two candidates running for Virginia state offices this past month: Ramin Fatehi [[link removed]] for Commonwealth Attorney in Norfolk, and Jennifer Adeli [[link removed]] for HD-34. We have the full belief that both candidates have the best interests for the Iranian-American community at the center of their leadership. It’s critical we continue to elect champions of community into public office at every level. If you’re a Virginia resident, remember your early voting deadline is tomorrow Saturday, June 5th.
📌 How to Support NIAC Action's Newest Endorsees
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Make
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campaign
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Make
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donation
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Ramin’s
campaign
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Virginia
Residents:
Find
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early
voting
location
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Spotlighting Human Rights in Iran
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Narges Mohammadi Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison [[link removed]]As an outspoken advocate for Iranian human rights, Mohammadi has led the charge to abolish the death penalty, and continued her human rights work from prison, writing about solitary confinement, abusive treatment, and poor conditions prisoners in Iran must endure. Even after her release from prison in October of 2020 and the intimidation tactics of Iranian authorities—like not allowing her to leave the country to visit her children—Mohammadi voices the protests of many other prisoners of conscience and her fellow countrymen.
📖 Read more from our Human Rights Tracker > [[link removed]]
➡️ Follow NIAC's Human Rights Tracker on Twitter > [[link removed]]
📥 Subscribe to receive our Human Rights Tracker in your inbox > [[link removed]]
Community & Culture
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🏳️‍🌈 Celebrating #IAPride [[link removed]]
In honor of Pride month, NIAC is proud to once again partner with LGBTQ+ members of our community to amplify their voices, share their stories, and offer different ways Iranian Americans can show-up, support, and uplift the voices of queer members of our community.
Only by lifting up the voices of LGBTQ+ Iranian Americans can we combat the isolation often perpetuated within the community. This is why NIAC invites all of you—LGBTQ+ individuals and allies—to share YOUR stories as part of our Pride campaign. Simply post your videos, art, and writing on Instagram or Twitter, use the #IAPride hashtag, and we'll include it on IAPride.com [[link removed]] !
Check out a highlight reel of last year's #IAPride campaign [[link removed]] and share your own story today!
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Book Review: Olivia Abtahi’s Perfectly Parvin [[link removed]]
In her debut novel, Perfectly Parvin , author Olivia Abtahi tells the story of 14-year-old Parvin Mohammadi, a second-generation Iranian American who navigates the trials of adolescence with the added complexity of growing up with different cultures.
Growing up in the U.S. with an Iranian father and an Argentine mother, Abtahi herself is a reflection of the increasingly diverse Iranian diaspora. A filmmaker and writer, Abtahi weaves together a story that is not only fun to read, but is also a moving coming of age story fit for our times.
Read more here [[link removed]] and make sure to get your copy today! [[link removed]]
From Our Staff
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The Islamic Republic’s Republic Is Dying [[link removed]]
Sina Toossi for Foreign Policy
The disqualification of Larijani and other prominent moderates and reformists from this year’s election, which has left Raisi with a practically uncontested path to the presidency, matters far beyond the nuclear file. It represents an inflection point in the political history of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hard-liners with authoritarian and strongly anti-American worldviews are brazenly maneuvering to remove their moderate rivals from the political landscape and overturn the system’s republican elements. Read More > [[link removed]]
Why Americans Should Defend Palestinians [[link removed]]
Assal Rad for Inkstick
It is our tax dollars that fund these crimes, it is our government that protects its perpetrators, which makes it our responsibility to defend Palestinians. If the United States government refuses to condemn or take action against Israeli apartheid and crimes against humanity — choosing an ideological fixation over defending the rules-based order and human rights it claims to espouse — then we, the American people, must hold our own government accountable to those values. Read more > [[link removed]]
Mass disqualifications set the stage for Iran’s presidential election [[link removed]]
Sina Toossi for Responsible Statecraft
Despite limitations on eligibility and speech, candidates running against the Islamic Republic’s establishment have won consequential elections on several occasions. The upcoming presidential election on June 18 is shaping up to be an inflection point. Hardline political forces, greatly empowered after years of U.S. pressure, have disqualified en masse anyone who could seriously challenge their preferred candidate: judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi. Read More > [[link removed]]
Iran Unfiltered : [[link removed]] Rouhani Officials Still Upbeat on a JCPOA Agreement [[link removed]]
The latest round of Vienna talks on restoring the JCPOA ended without a deal but Rouhani and his senior officials are still upbeat about resolving remaining differences. Meanwhile, the approved presidential candidates are campaigning, but the main moderate candidate is facing limitations. Khamenei has also done a reversal on his view on the Guardian Council’s disqualifications.
📖 Read the latest Iran Unfiltered > [[link removed]]
📥 Subscribe to receive Iran Unfiltered in your inbox > [[link removed]]
Upcoming Events
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⚽ NIAC Team Melli Watch Parties!
Great news, football is back! Team Melli (Iran’s men’s national team) has three must-win matches coming up in order to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Please join us for Zoom watch parties to support Team Melli during their upcoming matches. Click on the links below to RSVP for the watch parties!
📌 Monday, June 7th - Iran vs Bahrain (9:15am PT/12:15pm ET) [[link removed]]
📌 Friday, June 11th - Iran vs Cambodia (7:15am PT/10:15am ET) [[link removed]]
📌 Tuesday, June 15th - Iran vs Iraq (9:15am PT/12:15pm ET) [[link removed]]
NIAC Open Mic Poetry & Storytelling Night [[link removed]] 🎤
After the success of our newly launched Open Mic event series, we're proud to share that NIAC's next Open Mic will be hosted by NIAC New York chapter on Thursday, June 17th at 5pm PT/8pm ET . Join us to share your poems and short stories--or simply show-up to listen to some of our talented chapter members! Pride-themed submissions are especially encouraged.
📌 RSVP to join the Open Mic > [[link removed]]
Join NIAC’s Senior Research Fellow Dr. Assal Rad for a Panel Discussion [[link removed]]
From nuclear weapons abolitionists in Japan, to Belgians working to reduce military spending to meet urgent human needs, Iranian Americans working to prevent conflict between the U.S. and Iran, and Spaniards building an integrated justice and peace movement, speakers from around the world gather to talk about peace on Saturday, June 12th at 1pm PST. Organized by the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, Peace Action of New York State, and the International Peace Bureau
📌 Register here > [[link removed]]
Support niac. Donate Today. [[link removed]]

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