Netanyahu Expected to Stoke Iran Tensions Amid Trump White House Visit

NIAC President Jamal Abdi released the following statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House today, which comes as the administration is reportedly preparing to institute some form of “maximum pressure” sanctions pressure on Iran.

NIAC Urges Congressman Jeffries to Clarify War-Mongering Remarks on Iran

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sounded more like Dick Cheney than the Democratic Leader when he delivered remarks on Iran this weekend. He stated that Iran was weak and the U.S. “can’t take its foot off the gas until Iran is brought to its knees” using “all available mechanisms.” This hawkish rhetoric comes as Donald Trump […]

NIAC Action Statement on First-Ever Senate Vote to Restrict Israel Military Assistance

Washington, DC – Ryan Costello, Policy Director with National Iranian American Council Action, issued the following statement regarding the Senate vote on whether or not to restrict certain armaments from Israel that Israel’s military has used to commit war crimes in its war on Gaza.  “The fact that at least 18 Senators took a stand […]

Where Congress Stands on War with Iran

After more than a year of Israel’s war on Gaza, the U.S., Israel, and Iran now find themselves on the cusp of a disastrous, full-blown regional war. Following Iran’s barrage of missiles against Israel on October 1st, Israel has vowed a severe military retaliation, with Iran vowing to respond in kind to any attack. The […]

House of Representatives Passes H.R. 9456 Aimed at Racially Profiling Iranians

Despite opposition from NIAC and organizations like the ACLU, the White House, and a majority of Congressional Democrats, the House of Representatives passed a bill last week demonizing Iranian, Chinese, Russian, and other immigrant communities in America for purchasing real estate.  H.R. 9456, The Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024, is part […]

NIAC Statement on House Passage of Radical Sanctions Bill – The SHIP Act (H.R. 3774)

Washington, DC – Ryan Costello, Policy Director with the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement on the House of Representatives pending passage of a radical Iran sanctions bill – the SHIP Act (H.R. 3774) – that risks severe impacts on the global economy: “The SHIP Act would mandate one of the most radical […]

Senate Rejects Amendments to Open Door to War with Iran in AUMF Debate

After the years of tragedy and disaster that followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Senate voted to repeal the 2002 authorization to use force against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. NIAC has urged that the decades-old authorization be repealed to prevent it from being abused as a blank check for presidents to justify U.S. military action on Iran without any public debate or approval from Congress.

Memo: The Mahsa Act H.R.589

The MAHSA Act requires the President to determine whether the office of the Supreme Leader and the office of Iran’s President should be designated under existing sanctions authorities. Both the current Supreme Leader and President are already designated under one such authority, so in practical terms this bill would not lead to any increased sanctions. […]

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 […]

Statement Supporting SFRC Chairman’s Call to Ease Hurdles for Iranians Seeking Safety

NIAC applauds a letter from Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to the Biden administration urging they significantly ease the process for Iranians to come to the United States amid the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on its citizens. Menendez’s recommendation suggests adopting a form of “humanitarian parole” for Iranians, which would grant eligible individuals temporary admission to the United States without a formal visa.