Advancing Peace & Diplomacy
We are on the cusp of a historic breakthrough
Biden has been saying all year that the U.S. is ready to restore the Iran deal - now, a deal is close at hand, and Biden can’t afford to miss his chance. Four years of failed maximum pressure policy, which dramatically increased nuclear and non-nuclear threats to the U.S. as ordinary Iranians suffered, could be nearing an end.
The U.S. responded to Iran’s proposal on the agreement to revive the JCPOA last week, which was deemed “reasonable” by the European Union. Iran is now studying the U.S. position and is expected to answer by Friday. While no party wants to be seen as over-eager to rush into a deal, both parties are haggling over remaining stumbling blocks, including guarantees and the ongoing IAEA probe into Iran’s past nuclear activities.
There remains a significant risk that the negotiations drag on past November if both parties fail to overcome the remaining hurdles in the coming days. The Biden administration may be calculating political risks as we inch closer to midterms with an incentive to punt it off to avoid political hits heading into the midterm elections. But, If Iran responds favorably and the parties move in line, a deal could come together quickly. As always, our team will continue to monitor the talks closely and has been meeting with lawmakers regularly over the last month to rally support.
➡️ Read our explainer on Misinformation about the Iran nuclear negotiations
Protecting Civil Rights
Has your bank account been closed because of your heritage or religion? Why does this happen? What can be done to protect yourself? What’s the status of the class action lawsuit against Bank of America's treatment of Iranian customers? We’ll be answering these questions and more on our upcoming expert panel. Our team has been tracking this issue closely, working with Members of Congress and supporting an ongoing lawsuit brought against Bank of America. RSVP to join us on Thursday, September 8th at 1pm ET ➡️ RSVP
➡️Read: Lawsuit Targeting Bank of America’s discriminatory practices against Iranians upheld in California
Community & Culture
The Biden administration extended general licensing allowing students in Iran impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to continue remote coursework. This is an important step. This license was originally enacted by the Trump administration following pressure from NIAC and academics who warned that students barred from entering the United States at the height of the pandemic would face irreparable harm given that sanctions would prevent them from continuing their studies remotely. Its extension is a welcome move, as no sanctions should stand in the way of education and academic exchange. ➡️ Read More
Spotlighting Human Rights
Reports have indicated that Iranian authorities are persecuting Bahá’ís. They show disturbing demonstrations of systematic targeting, harassment, arrests, and the bulldozing of homes. As a cornerstone of human rights, we call for religious freedom to be protected in Iran. ➡️ Read More
August 16th marked 2,500 days of continued detention in Iran for Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi, the longest incarceration that any Iranian-American dual national has endured which has continued under the tenure of three different U.S. presidents. Nothing can make up for the years of the Namazis’ life that have been unfairly taken away, but with every additional day he spends in prison, that injustice is deepened. ➡️ Read More
 See more from our Human Rights Tracker
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Building Political Power
Meeting Members of Congress and Training Volunteers across the country
NIAC members across the country have held over 20 meetings with their members of Congress in just the past month, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, John Ossoff, and more. Meanwhile, our NIAC Academies Civic Trainings kicked off in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago. NIAC staff have been traveling to key regions to host these free trainings on how government works and how Iranian Americans and allies of our community can ensure our voices are heard.
➡️ Sign up to join a chapter near you to be invited to our next Congressional meeting
U.S. foreign policy has become increasingly reliant on economic sanctions, yet policymakers lack data that report their effectiveness in safeguarding American interests and the humanitarian consequences that must factor into policymakers' considerations. Earlier this month, NIAC alongside 28 organizations called on the Senate to pass a key amendment, introduced by Representative Chuy Garcia (IL-04) and passed by the House, to investigate the effectiveness and humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions. The amendment has passed the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for three consecutive years. ➡️ Read More
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