Washington, D.C. – Ryan Costello, Policy Director of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement regarding initial reports that the U.S. and Iran may begin negotiations in the coming days:
“It is not too late for the U.S. and Iran to take an off-ramp to imminent war by opening direct negotiations. However, this may be the last, best chance to prevent a renewed outbreak of war that would be a catastrophe for U.S. security, the people of Iran and the Middle East as a whole.
“The shadow of renewed war has loomed since the conclusion of the so-called ’12 day war’ last June, and has grown ever larger in the wake of the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on demonstrations last month that killed thousands. Opening a new chapter of war would be a disaster: for U.S. interests, with American servicemembers likely to be under fire in any new war; for the region, which would be ignited in a full-scale conflagration; and for the people of Iran, who would again be victimized by a major bombing campaign, scarcity and deprivation, and worsening internal repression.
“Yet merely sitting down for negotiations does not guarantee success or that war can ultimately be avoided. Each side will need to take meaningful steps toward compromise in order to avert a march to war. If the U.S. seeks to impose maximalist demands across the board, or Iran refuses any form of compromise, movement toward war will significantly accelerate. Seriousness of purpose must be shown at the outset of these negotiations to keep peace on the table.
“We hope that diplomatic efforts can avert a war and bring relief for the Iranian people while we also demand that more be done by each party in light of the massacre that has taken place in Iran. We call on Iranian authorities to fully comply with the UN fact finding mission and special rapporteurs so that there is a full, credible accounting of the massacre that has occurred and the actors responsible. We reiterate that Iranian authorities must comply with Iran’s international human rights obligations, including by releasing all prisoners of conscience and ending the use of forced confessions and capital punishment to silence dissent. We call on the US to halt its deportations to Iran, end the travel ban on Iranian visa seekers, and once again allow for processing of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers that has been paused.”
###