Trump and Iran: Diplomacy Tracker
*Sources are linked to each date listed May 12, 2025 President Trump spoke to the current progress of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, stating that there are “very good things happening.” He continued that Iran “can’t have a nuclear weapon, but I think that they are talking intelligently in the midst of talking to them, they are, […]
Honoring Mahsa Jina Amini and Iranians’ Demands for Freedom
One year ago, 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini was detained by Iranian authorities who seek to deprive women of bodily autonomy. She was beaten in their custody and killed at the hands of the state. As we pause and reflect on the uprising for change her death ignited, we are reminded of the brutal crackdown that ensued, the resilience of the Iranian people, and the power of collective action that unites Iranians under the banner of Woman, Life, Freedom.
Freeing Iranian Americans and humanitarian funds is a win-win
The latest Iran deal is a win-win. A complicated prisoner swap should ease drug shortages that are killing ordinary Iranians—and put new pressure on Tehran’s leaders. Read this op-ed from NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello in Defense One.
NIAC Statement on Persian Gulf Militarization
Washington, DC – Ryan Costello, Policy Director with the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement regarding reports that U.S. Marines would imbed with oil tankers transiting the Persian Gulf, following tit for tat seizures of oil tankers from the U.S. and Iran in recent months: “The enforcement of unilateral U.S. sanctions on Iran, […]
Memo: Ending Discriminatory Bank Account Closures
For years, Iranian Americans, Iranian nationals and other minority groups have been discriminated against by U.S. financial institutions. Several regulations, including sweeping U.S sanctions against Iran, have led to no-notice bank account freezes and even closures, causing immense disruption to lives solely on the basis of their national heritage. These incidents have been well documented, […]
NIAC Statement on Lawsuit Targeting Bank of America’s Discrimination
Washington, DC – For years, the National Iranian American Council has tracked reports as Iranian Americans, Iranian nationals, and other minority groups have faced discriminatory bank account closures. One of the biggest culprits of these practices, Bank of America, has refuted discriminatory intent and falsely claimed account suspensions were necessary to comply with U.S. sanction […]
NIAC Statement on Biden Reinstating Sanctions Waivers on Iran’s Civilian Nuclear Activities
Ryan Costello, Policy Director with the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement following the Biden administration’s announcement that they would reinstate sanctions waivers related to Iran’s civilian nuclear program: “Trump never should have revoked these waivers in the first place, which are in the US interest and benefit nonproliferation efforts. It is a […]
Othering Iran: How Dehumanization of Iranians Undermines Rights at Home
This groundbreaking report explains how the dehumanization of Iranians undermines U.S. policy objectives and hurts the Iranian-American community at home, and outlines recommendations to improve the current state of affairs.
UN Experts Warn About Humanitarian Impact of Sanctions
On October 19th, experts at the United Nations warned that over-compliance with U.S. sanctions on Iran could deprive Iranians of their basic health rights. Their findings emphasized the example of children suffering from epidermolysis bullosa, a severe and life-threatening skin condition. Their warning was prompted by a Swedish bandage company’s decision to halt shipments to Iran due to fears of sanctions-related consequences. On paper, such humanitarian trade is supposed to be exempt from sanctions, yet the reality is that companies over-comply out of fear that they could violate the web of restrictions on Iran.
The Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Internet Access in Iran
The protests that broke out in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province this summer followed a familiar pattern. Iranian citizens took to the streets to air grievances they have with the status quo, in this case dire water shortages intensified by mismanaged water resources and climate change. The Iranian government in turn responded with an internet outage and deadly force and repression to quell the public outpouring of discontent. What may come as a shock to many, however, is the role U.S. sanctions have played in inadvertently helping Iran’s government censor, surveil, and repress its population.
Iranians Plead for Vaccines as Covid Deaths Soar
Over the last week, Iran has seen a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths as the country faces its fifth-wave of the deadly virus. According to reports, on Monday Iran hit a record high of 655 deaths in 24 hours, however, the death toll is likely higher than the numbers provided by officials and the total death toll will soon surpass 100,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.
NIAC Continues to Engage PayPal and Venmo on Community’s Concerns with Account Freezes
The pervasive effect of sanctions is evident in everyday life for Iranian Americans. Stories of account freezes and bank account closures for Iranian Americans have proven all too common. One of the financial institutions responsible for many of the complaints from our members is Venmo, which routinely reviews transactions involving words with connections to sanctioned states. It is often a painful reminder of how our community has been vilified in the United States that simply using certain words associated with Iran in a transaction description could be flagged for further review or cause accounts to be frozen.