Congress forms caucus to aid Iranian ex-terror group
“The fact that a documented cult-like organization with a history of terrorism, human rights abuses, and committing atrocities alongside Saddam Hussein can get endorsed by lawmakers in Washington is a testament to how much money and power is behind the pro-war with Iran infrastructure here,” says Jamal Abdi, head of the National Iranian American Council.
Memo: The Pro-MEK Resolution H.Res. 100
A sizable portion of the House of Representatives has already cosponsored H.Res. 100, a resolution recently introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA). This fact has angered many Iranian Americans across political stripes, as the resolution is viewed as endorsement of a group – the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) – that is widely reviled for fighting alongside Saddam […]
A First Hand Account of Life and Death in the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq Cult
Watch An Unfinished Documentary For My Daughter Somayeh here. The dynamics between politics and family are complicated enough for many people. For some, devotion to one comes at a cost to the other, tearing lives apart and upending basic morals. Mustafa Mohammady and his family lived through such an ordeal during their years with the […]
Learning from the Past – The Failures of Militant Counterrevolution in Iran and Cuba
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” – Foundation, Isaac Asimov
Although I am not a part of the Iranian diaspora, I have seen many similarities between its history and that of a diaspora I am part of – Cuban exiles. My grandmother, aunt, and mother were born in Cuba and fled its communist government for a better life in America. Like many other Cuban exiles they hate Fidel Castro, and want few things more than to bring his regime down. How precisely to do this, however, is a point of contention – my mother favors diplomatic relations with Cuba and expanding socioeconomic exchanges to foster demand for reform. On the other hand, my grandmother and aunt oppose engagement with the regime on the grounds that dialogue would legitimize it.
House Hearing Examines Iran-Iraq Relations
Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran, spoke at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing about Al Qaeda’s resurgence in Iraq on Wednesday, February 5. Answering the questions of several lawmakers, he notably addressed the critical role that Iran plays in the complicated Iraqi political realm. When Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) expressed concern […]
Media dupes lump entire Iranian-American community in with MEK
As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at the United Nations, a large rally took place near the United Nations building. This participants were described as “Anti-Ahmadinejad protesters” (AFP), “anti-Iranian regime protesters” (CNN), merely “protesters” (NY Daily News, USA Today), “sponsored by groups including the Association of Iranian-Americans in New York & New Jersey” (CBSNewYork), and […]
Iran News Roundup 12/29
Italy supports oil sanctions Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said that the Italian government supports an oil embargo on Iran, provided certain exceptions are made for the Italian company Eni (Wall Street Journal 12/29). Russian ambassador warns against Iran conflict Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations said that a potential conflict between Iran and […]
Iran News Roundup 12/28
Tensions increase in the Persian Gulf Iran’s naval commander claimed today that Iran “has total control over” the Strait of Hormuz and that it would be “very easy” for Iran to close it. The remarks come just one day after Iranian vice president Mohammad Reza-Rahimi threatened that Iran would close the strait if the West imposes […]
Iran News Roundup 12/21
Iran’s currency tumbles On Tuesday, Iran’s currency plummeted in value to its lowest level ever against the dollar (NY Times 12/20). The Washington Post reports that the sudden drop followed the announcement by Iranian officials that Iran had cut trade ties with the UAE because of “anti-Iranian positions.” After Tuesday’s plunge, Iranian Vice President Rahimi backtracked […]
Iran News Roundup 12/20
Panetta: U.S. will not allow Iran to have a bomb Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who has come under fire from neoconservatives for warning against the unintended consequences of Israeli military action against Iran, told CBS on Monday “the United States does not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon” and shares Israel’s common concern. […]
Iran News Roundup 12/19
Talks accelerate on a potential embargo on Iran In what could be a precursor to an embargo on Iran, a “coalition of like-minded countries” including U.S., EU, Arab, and Asian states will meet in Rome tomorrow for talks on how to maintain stable global energy markets in the midst of increased Iran sanctions (Wall Street Journal 12/19). […]
Iran News Roundup 12/14
How covert operations can spiral out of control Barry Lando writes on the dangers of increasing covert operations against Iran. “Predictably, aggressive acts will provoke retaliation from Iran — a situation, which, in the context of America’s superheated presidential primaries, could spiral dangerously out of control. Which is just what militants in Tehran, Jerusalem, and […]