The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act (S. 556), introduced by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in the Senate, would impose new sanctions on actors with minimal connection to trade related to Iranian oil. Critically, the bill would offer minimal discretion to the President on sanctions policy, and would require an act of Congress to halt after 2029, […]
“War, Weaponization or a Deal? Trump’s High-Stakes Approach Toward Iran” Washington, DC – “I think the strategic case is self-evident: I don’t think an Iran war is necessary or justified for U.S. national security, but I think it’s almost more important to make the political argument that this is bad for Trump.” Those comments were […]
Washington, DC – Ryan Costello, Policy Director with the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement amid reports that Iran responded to President Trump’s letter to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei through intermediaries in Oman. “It is favorable that both the U.S. and Iran are communicating and hopefully making progress in jumpstarting serious negotiations. If […]
Washington, DC – The National Iranian American Council released the following statement regarding reports that Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student from Iran studying at the University of Alabama, had been detained by ICE: “We are deeply disturbed by the arrest of Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student at the University of Alabama, by ICE agents. At […]
Washington, DC – NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello issued the following statement regarding comments made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader: “Araghchi’s comments shine a light on Trump’s early diplomatic approach to Iran, which has struck dueling notes of pressure and opportunities for […]
Given recent incidents and the likely reimposition of the travel ban, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is issuing an advisory recommending that foreign nationals in the United States who have been active politically consider taking extra precautions given escalating legal threats being pursued by the current U.S. administration. These legal threats violate fundamental Constitutional […]
Washington, D.C. – National Iranian American Council (NIAC) President Jamal Abdi has released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s saber rattling toward Iran, the U.S. decision to bomb Houthi strongholds in Yemen and the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza: “The risks of regional war are once again surging with the apparent rupture of […]
Washington, DC – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement after Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, issued statements on negotiations with Iran over the weekend: “Remarks from Iranian officials over the weekend suggest there is an opening for diplomacy if the United States focuses on realistic goals. […]
While President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s leader seeking negotiations, U.S. intelligence reportedly believes that Israel could attempt to strike Iran’s nuclear program by the summer of 2025. What implications would Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program have on U.S. policy? Can Israel strike Iran’s nuclear program without U.S. involvement? Israel would likely require […]
Washington, DC – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement regarding reports that President Trump sent a letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei on pursuing negotiations. “It is significant that President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader to initiate nuclear talks, following many statements indicating his interest in […]
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While President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s leader seeking negotiations, U.S. intelligence reportedly believes that Israel could attempt to strike Iran’s nuclear program by the summer of 2025. What implications would Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program have on U.S. policy? Can Israel strike Iran’s nuclear program without U.S. involvement? Israel would likely require […]
مروری بر سیاستها و تاثیرات آنها محدودیتهای ویزاهای دانشجویی رشتههای تحصیلی – بر اساس قوانین فدرال (مصوب در سال ۲۰۱۲) و توضیحات وزیر خارجه دولت آمریکا٬ صدور ویزای دانشجویی برای دانشجویان ایرانی که قصد تحصیل و استخدام در رشتههای مربوط به بخش انرژی کشور ایران یا علوم هستهای یا مهندسی هستهای یا رشتههای مرتبط در […]
برای خواندن این مطلب به فارسی اینجا را کلیک کنید Overview of Policies and Impact Student visa restrictions Field of study – Federal law prohibits issuance of student visas for Iranian students seeking to study in a field that would prepare them “for a career in the energy sector of Iran or in nuclear science or […]
Trump has made major, clear signals of his desire for a new nuclear deal with Iran, building on prior statements supportive of diplomacy. These seem to set the stage for new negotiations, despite his apparently reluctant signature of a memorandum reinstituting “maximum pressure” sanctions against Iran. For those serious about resolving tensions with Iran through […]
National Iranian American Council Action strongly opposes S. 5/H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act. These concerns have deepened following the Senate’s failure to adopt the common-sense amendment from Sen. Coons (D-DE), SA 23, which would have removed deeply concerning and radical provisions of the bill that could entirely up-end legal immigration as we know it. […]
President Joe Biden was right to remove the Muslim Ban on Day One of his administration. Yet, as his term ends after four years, the processing of visas for Iranians under his administration never returned to anything approaching the levels that were seen under the Obama administration. This marks a failure that tarnishes President Biden’s […]
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Was Doroudi’s arrest a mistake, or a case of mistaken identity? Was the arrest related to visa complications or violations of U.S. law? Right now, there’s no clear word. Yet a young man from the Iranian community here in the United States has had his future upended without any basic respect for the due process that everyone in our democracy is owed.
While President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s leader seeking negotiations, U.S. intelligence reportedly believes that Israel could attempt to strike Iran’s nuclear program by the summer of 2025. What implications would Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program have on U.S. policy? Can Israel strike Iran’s nuclear program without U.S. involvement? Israel would likely require […]
Washington, DC – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement regarding reports that President Trump sent a letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei on pursuing negotiations. “It is significant that President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader to initiate nuclear talks, following many statements indicating his interest in […]
Washington, DC – Ryan Costello, Policy Director of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement regarding reports that President Trump asked Russia to mediate with Iran on the nuclear stand-off and other tensions between the U.S. and Iran: “Anyone who has watched tensions build between the U.S. and Iran since 2018 knows that […]
On February 26, 2025, NIAC sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem outlining the organization’s concerns with the impending reimposition of a travel ban as directed by President Trump’s Executive Order 14161 signed on January 20, 2025. The letter underscores the problematic nature of broad-based, blanket […]
While President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s leader seeking negotiations, U.S. intelligence reportedly believes that Israel could attempt to strike Iran’s nuclear program by the summer of 2025. What implications would Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program have on U.S. policy? Can Israel strike Iran’s nuclear program without U.S. involvement? Israel would likely require […]
Washington, DC – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement regarding reports that President Trump sent a letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei on pursuing negotiations. “It is significant that President Trump has appealed directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader to initiate nuclear talks, following many statements indicating his interest in […]
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Between Pressure and Diplomacy: the Evolving Iran-U.S. Standoff Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has publicly criticized what he describes as “bullying governments” demanding negotiations with Iran in public remarks on Saturday. These comments were made shortly after The U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to have sent him a letter, with Khamenei contending that Washington’s […]
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بهار آینده، فاطمه سپهری شصتویکمین سال زندگی خود را پشت سر خواهد گذاشت. او که اکنون ۶۰ ساله است، در مشهد زندانی است؛ آن هم به جرم درخواست تغییر – اما این زندان هنوز موفق به خاموش کردن صدای او نشده است. با وجود مشکلات جدی قلبی، بازداشتهای پیدرپی و حکم ۱۸ سال حبس، هرگز […]
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This week, reports suggested that Israel has been attacking Iranian ships since 2019. And, U.S. and Iranian officials continue to trade escalating barbs over the JCPOA and questions remain over frozen Iranian funds in South Korean banks. Please see our breakdown below:
Two months ago, a hardline President infamous for overseeing mass executions in the Iranian judiciary was the second most powerful man in Iran, and was expected to remain so and potentially assume the role of Supreme Leader after the eventual passing of Ali Khamenei. There was little hope on the horizon for any change after […]
By Jamal Abdi Iranian Americans who have had their bank accounts closed or who have been subjected to invasive and persistent questioning by their banks because of their Iranian heritage were dealt another blow in the effort to stop banking discrimination. Two years ago, Bank of America was sued for shutting down the bank account […]
In October 2024, with support from the Proteus Fund, NIAC conducted its largest-ever nonpartisan voter outreach campaign. Using a national voter database and an AI tool developed by a NIAC chapter volunteer, we identified over 120,000 registered Iranian American voters across the country.
