Memo: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act (S. 556)
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, […]
Congress Includes Iran Sanctions in $26 Billion Israel Aid Bill
Congress is poised to advance – with President Biden’s endorsement – a massive $26 billion Israeli military aid package that includes several billions of dollars in unrestricted offensive weaponry for Israel and expansive new sanctions on Iran. With Israel planning a possible military incursion into Rafah opposed by the U.S. and facing no accountability for […]
Sanctions Are More Important Than Your Civil Rights
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 […]
The Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act Risks Supercharging Tensions with Iran
The innocuously-named “Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023” (H.R. 6201/S. 3197) seeks to significantly increase U.S. interdictions of Iranian shipping vessels to enforce unilateral U.S. sanctions, a highly escalatory proposition that risks heightening tensions and inviting Iranian reprisals. The push is particularly unwise in the current context of regional hostilities that have spilled across the […]
World Bank Report Outlines “Lost Decade” for Iran Under Sanctions
The World Bank published an important report this month detailing a “lost decade of economic growth for Iran” that pushed millions of Iranian citizens into poverty and economic precarity.
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 […]
Prisoner Swap and Deescalation- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
برای خواندن این مطلب به فارسی اینجا را کلیک کنید On August 10, 2023, it was reported that the U.S. and Iran, with mediation from Oman, Qatar and Switzerland, are engaging in a multi-step prisoner swap that will play out over several weeks. Five Iranian-American dual nationals have been transferred out of prison in Iran […]
Statement Applauding New Humanitarian Exemptions to Sanctions
Washington, DC – Ryan Costello, Policy Director of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement applauding the Biden administration’s publication of new licensing to harmonize and clarify humanitarian exemptions to sanctions, including on Iran. This follows the passage of a UN Security Council Resolution broadening humanitarian exemptions across UN sanctions programs. NIAC has […]
NIAC Applauds Biden Move to Expand Internet Access for Iranians By Updating Sanctions Policy
We welcome and applaud the administration’s moves to broaden sanctions licensing to support internet freedom in Iran. This will mean that tech firms that had cut Iranians off from their services – like Google and Amazon – can once again provide services to Iranians.
NIAC Calls on Biden to Allow Greater Internet Access for Iranians Amidst Protests by Revising Outdated Sanctions License
We are once again inspired by the bravery of the Iranian people standing up against state violence following the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini by the so-called morality police. Statements of solidarity and condemnations of state violence are a good start, but the Biden administration should go a step further and take a tangible step to support internet freedom in Iran.
29 Organizations Urge Passage of Amendment on Humanitarian Impact of Sanctions in this Year’s NDAA
Washington, DC – 29 organizations called on the Senate today to pass a key amendment, introduced by Representative Chuy Garcia’s (IL-04) and passed by the House, to investigate the effectiveness and humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions. The amendment has passed the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for three consecutive years. U.S. foreign […]
Targeting Civilians: the Human Cost of U.S. Economic Sanctions
“22 million people {in Afghanistan} are deeply food insecure. Most pockets in the country are either one or two steps away from famine. One million Afghan children are at risk for death,” said Arash Azizzada of Afghans for a Better Tomorrow. Azizzada was underscoring the dire humanitarian impacts of U.S. sanctions during NIAC’s expert […]