Diplomacy remains the only viable path to improve human rights in Iran
Jamal Abdi & Sina Toossi for Newsweek
After years of bearing the brunt of severe U.S. economic sanctions, it now faces the prospect of having those sanctions lifted amid negotiations in Vienna to restore the 2015 nuclear deal. At the same time, Ebrahim Raisi, an ardent conservative with a history of gross human rights abuses, will assume the Iranian presidency on August 3 after perhaps the most stage-managed election in the Islamic Republic's history. Read More >
#ICYMI: “Iran After the Rouhani Presidency: Debriefing the June 18th Election”
The June 18th Iranian presidential election meant major changes for Iran and its interactions with the West. NIAC hosted an expert panel to discuss the outcome of the election and how it will impact the country's political trajectory, both in terms of its domestic policies and foreign affairs. A big thanks goes to our panelists for sharing their insights: NIAC's own Sina Toossi, Bijan Khajehpour (Eurasian Nexus Partners), Negar Mortazavi (Host, Iran Podcast), Shervin Malekzadeh (Visiting Scholar, Colgate University) and moderator Sanam Shantyaei of France24.
📺 Watch the entire conversation here >
NIAC Responds to the Latest U.S. Airstrikes on Iran-linked Militias
It is deeply concerning that the Biden administration’s military strikes against militias linked to Iran are outpacing concrete diplomatic achievements. The Trump administration already proved that airstrikes under suspect authorities will not deescalate tensions with Iraqi militias linked to Iran but rather do the opposite. Yet the Biden administration has effectively continued them and echoed the prior administration’s legally dubious claims that such offensive strikes are de-escalatory. While the militias’ threats, rocket fire, and drone attacks targeting U.S. troops and bases are deeply concerning and should be rightly condemned, escalating a tit for tat is not an answer that will ensure safety and security. Only serious and urgent diplomacy can achieve that.
Read the Full Statement >
Community & Culture
Help Save a Life by Supporting #Hope4Shahin
Dr. Shahin Nouri is a neurologist based out of New York City who has devoted his life to helping care for thousands of people with epilepsy. Last spring, Shahin was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma alongside a second form of Lymphoma. With all available therapies exhausted, his only chance for survival is a stem cell transplant from a compatible donor. With this in mind, Shahin's family and friends launched the #Hope4Shahin campaign to find stem cell donors who may be able to help save his life.
If you are between the ages of 18-44, in good health, and are willing to donate your stem cells to those in need, then please visit ShahinsWings.org to learn more and find a local stem cell match drive near you.
📌 Learn more and get involved >
Support Mehran Mossaddad to Prevent Eviction
Iranian American Mehran Mossaddad is a single father from Atlanta, Georgia who is in need of our help. When the pandemic struck, Mehran was forced to stop working and stay home to take care of his 10-year-old daughter. During a gap in the federal moratorium on evictions, Mehran’s landlord filed for eviction and since Mehran’s county caps federal aid, he fears that he may have nowhere to stay if he is unable to pay off his rent. Now, Mehran is trying to raise $30,000 to help cover expenses, but he is still about $15,000 short. Please consider chipping in today to help one of our own.
📌 Support Mehran Mossaddad >
Spotlighting Human Rights in Iran
Over the past week, Iranian workers in the oil and petrochemical industries have organized a national strike calling for better wages, payment of back wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and demanding the rights that should be given to all workers across the world. Videos and online posts have emerged showing Iranian oil workers staging walkouts and protests using the hashtag “Campaign 1400,” in reference to Iran’s calendar year.
Read More >
📖 Read more from our Human Rights Tracker >
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From Our Staff
Iran and Raisi Have a Legitimacy Crisis
Sina Toossi for Foreign Policy
“Raisi takes the helm of the Iranian presidency at a critical juncture for the Islamic Republic. His publicly stated positions suggest he may be more of a pragmatic president than many believe, but his dark past and principlist base may make him a poor steward for enacting much-need reforms.”
Read More >
Iran’s Presidential Election Demonstrates Limits of U.S. Pressure Campaign
Assal Rad for The American Prospect
Many of the same people who pushed the U.S. to quit the nuclear deal and sanction innocent Iranians into poverty—under the guise of a better deal and support for the Iranian people—will now use the election of Raisi as a reason to further isolate Iran. Stuck between a foreign power that is hell-bent on their submission and a government that is more concerned with solidifying its own hold on power than the well-being of its people, ordinary Iranians continue to suffer. Read More >
Iran Unfiltered: Rouhani & Senior Officials Claim Deal at Hand in Vienna
President Rouhani and his senior officials claimed a deal was at hand in Vienna but that political complications and bureaucracies in Iran were delaying an agreement. Meanwhile, the newly-elected President Raisi held his first press conference and talked about a broad range of issues. Iran has also received more COVID-19 vaccines, while a nuclear facility came under a suspected drone attack.
📖 Read the latest Iran Unfiltered >
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Upcoming Events
NIAC Georgia’s Summer Social Event
With vaccinations well underway, we’re excited to announce that NIAC Georgia will hold its FIRST ever in-person summer social event on Saturday, July 10 at 4pm ET at the Picnic Table Gazebo in Azalea Park. Please bring family and friends for a fun afternoon of volleyball, bocce ball, board games, and fun! RSVP Here >
NIAC Chicago Open-Mic Night
Join us for our third virtual open-mic poetry & storytelling night hosted by the NIAC Chicago chapter, on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 8pm ET/5pm PT! In an effort to celebrate our culture and be in community with one another, we're hosting our open-mic poetry & storytelling nights every third Thursday of the month. Attendees are invited to share or just listen, and we welcome poems & short stories in your language of choice! Folks who want to share will be given a five-minute time slot. RSVP Here >
