U.S. border officers working at multiple Canada-U.S. border crossings were instructed to target and interrogate Iranian-born travellers in early January, said a U.S. border officer in an email obtained by CBC News. The allegation follows reports that up to 200 people of Iranian descent travelling from B.C. - many of them Canadian or U.S. citizens - were detained and questioned for hours at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Wash., during the weekend of Jan. 4. -CBC 1/24/20

Makaremi and other anti-war activists helped organize a protest in Foley Square on Jan. 9 to denounce the prospect of a U.S. war with Iran and end sanctions that have left his mother struggling to get the proper dosage of her heart medicine. "By policy there are rights of me that are being nullified," Sadra Shahab said. "I'm a U.S. citizen, but my mom cannot visit me in my own country, that means I'm just not like any other citizen." On his way to the protest in Foley Square, Shahab commented, "I'm not sure there's ever a good time to be an Iranian, but it's a bad time to be an Iranian." -Paul Frangipane, Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1/23/20

Earlier this month, soon after President Donald Trump ordered the killing of a top Iranian government official and the nation vowed to retaliate, news broke that U.S. border agents held nearly 200 people of Iranian descent without explanation at the Washington state border with Canada. U.S. Customs and Border Protection disputed the claim that officers detained Iranian Americans at the Peace Arch border crossing, but dozens of news reports described otherwise. -Rowaida Abdelaziz, Huffington Post 1/23/20

I was surprised to meet Ghanimat Azhdari in Geneva last June. When I was asked to speak at a gathering of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Indigenous Fellowship Programme. She was a young woman from the Indigenous Qashqai community, and despite the obstacles she had most certainly faced on her way, she was at the top of her field. She told me about her work promoting biodiversity and that she was headed to Canada for her PhD. So talented and ambitious. I was heartbroken to find Ghanimat's face among the victims of the Ukrainian Airlines flight 752 that crashed in Iran on Jan. 8. -Leila Arakami, The Star 1/23/20

The National Iranian American Council has sent a letter to Etsy concerning its apparently discriminatory treatment of an American vendor selling "Persian dolls" on its website. These dolls appear to have been made in America with American materials by an American, and under no circumstances should have been flagged as a prohibited item. -NIAC 1/22/20

Iranian students at Purdue are feeling the ramifications of recent conflict between the United States and Iran, even while on campus. One graduate student, who requested to remain anonymous for fear of potential consequences on future petitions for immigration or jobs, hasn't seen his family in six and a half years. His parents were able to visit his brother, who's living in Canada, but they weren't able to obtain visas to visit him due to the travel ban. And he couldn't go to Canada without having to reapply for a visa. -Sean Murley., The Exponent 1/22/20

ollowing the US assassination of a top Iranian general earlier this month and Iranian airstrikes against US military bases in Iraq, Donald Trump once again imposed biting sanctions against the regime in Tehran. To Iranian Americans, many of whom have lived under sanctions in Iran or have family members there suffering through economic hardship, the fresh round of penalties is a painful reminder of the collateral consequences of escalating conflict. -Sam Levin, Guardian 1/20/20

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), and its sister organization NIAC Action, are American civil-society organizations working on behalf of members of the Iranian-American community and the broader American public. At a time when our nation is bitterly divided, NIAC is an important voice in our public debate on issues of enormous consequence for all Americans - and particularly for Americans of Iranian heritage - including heightened tensions in the Middle East and the risk of war, policies like the Muslim travel ban and extreme vetting, the rise in domestic hate crimes, and the protection of civil liberties. 1/18/20

I was born in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war [1980 to 1988], in a border town called Ahwaz. My family and I moved to San Francisco when I was very young, but most of my family still lives in Iran. My grandfather forced my mom and my dad to leave Iran during the war. He told them, Your kids can not have a good life here. They will do better things in America. I owe everything to my grandfather and my family who made so many sacrifices for me to be where I am today. -By Mana Mostatabi; as told to Leila Ettachfini, VICE 1/17/20

In the face of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, Iranian Americans can be caught in the middle... Nealofar Madani, a third-year in public health and co-leader of the Iranian Cultural Association, said she has concerns about family visiting from Iran. Milad Vedaie, a third-year in environmental engineering and co-leader of the Iranian Cultural Association, grew up in suburban Columbus and is a dual citizen of America and Iran. His parents and siblings all attended Ohio State. He said he has faced discrimination because of portrayals of Iranians in the media. Madani and Vedaie said they embrace both aspects of their identity and want to change media narratives around Iranians. -The Lantern 1/17/20

Jasmin "Jaws" Moghbeli earned her fierce nickname during her time as a decorated helicopter gunship pilot who flew more than 150 missions in Afghanistan. The Marine Corps major, MIT graduate and college basketball player can now add another accomplishment to her burgeoning resume: the first Iranian-American astronaut. -MSN 1/16/20

At age 22, Andy Madadian fled Iran with nothing, moved to Los Angeles and started playing guitar at nightclubs to pay rent. Now 63, the internationally celebrated pop singer says he's ready for another "new beginning": Madadian is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the first Iranian artist to earn the honor. -Sam Levin, Guardian 1/16/20

In response to a letter sent by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Braun (R-IN) to the Department of Justice baselessly urging an investigation into NIAC and NIAC Action, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) issued the following statement: "At NIAC, we are proud of the work we do for our community. We will never stop working to advance peace and diplomacy or fighting for equitable immigration policies and the civil rights of all Americans. 1/15/20

The killing of Soleimani has united Iranians who showed up in large numbers at funeral processions in numerous Iranian cities, despite some Iranians living outside Iran dismissing them as having been forced to attend by the Iranian government. Moreover, parts of the social media sphere have created an alternative narrative that leaves the impression that a majority of Iranians living outside Iran support American interventionism. -Mohammad Rafi, Responsible Statecraft 1/15/20

The Washington region is home to one of the largest communities of Iranian-Americans in the country. More than 31,000 Iranian-Americans call the area home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey, behind only the Los Angeles and New York metropolitan regions...The intense barrage of news has been especially hard on Iranian-Americans who have strong personal and family ties to people in both countries. -NPR 1/11/20

The Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is opening an investigation into the many reports of people being stopped and questioned for hours over the weekend at the Canadian border, according to a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal. The civil-rights office verbally confirmed the investigation Wednesday, and said it is sending investigators to Washington state, according to Subhan Cheema, Jayapal's spokesman. -Seattle Times 1/9/20

That the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani will reorder the Middle East is obvious - Iraq's parliamentary vote to expel U.S. forces, along with Iran's declared restarting of its nuclear arms program with "no limitations," offers proof enough. But that the killing will have repercussions within the United States, rattling the lives and liberties of many U.S. citizens and residents, is also a strong possibility - one that's no less ominous. -Aziz Huq, Washington Post 1/8/20

The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) and its Iranian American coalition partners today issued the following statement following the recent reports of mass detentions of Iranians and Iranian Americans at the Washington/Canada Border: We write to share extremely disconcerting news and to share important information with you regarding new immigration incidents affecting Iranian Americans and Iranians in the U.S. Please read the below carefully and share this information with your friends and family. 1/7/20

Until Sunday morning, University of Pennsylvania academic and historian John Ghazvinian-who left Iran as a baby with his family more than four decades ago and grew up in London and Los Angeles-traveled in and out of the United States with the same freedoms as any other U.S. citizen. But when he arrived from Cairo at John F. Kennedy International Airport via an Air France connecting flight from Paris-two days after the U.S. military killed one of Iran's top generals on orders from President Donald Trump--all of that changed. -Lloyd Grove, Daily Beast 1/7/20

Arriving at the United States border in Washington State early Sunday morning after a skiing trip to Canada, Negah Hekmati and her family were pulled out of line for further questioning by Customs and Border Protection agents. The family found itself in a room filled with fellow Iranian-Americans, many of whom had already been held for hours. -New York Times 1/7/20

Mona Zabihian was on her way back to Washington after a Persian pop concert in Canada late Saturday night when she and four other Iranian Americans were pulled aside at the border. As their van slowed at the checkpoint, the U.S. citizens were asked a series of standard questions. Then they were given a slip and told to go inside, she said Sunday. The 27-year-old said she waited for about an hour before officials called for her questioning. -Los Angeles Times 1/6/20

The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani stoked fears Sunday that people of Iranian descent in the United States would come under heightened surveillance and led to reports that Iranian Americans were being detained at the U.S.-Canada border, which Customs and Border Protection denied. -CNBC 1/6/20

On September 24th, 2019, in his UN address President Trump defended the United States' economic sanctions against Iran by invoking language that has become so familiar to us we fail to hear its ruthless and genocidal resonances. After stating that it was his duty and priority to "defend America's interests," Trump cited "Iran's blood-lust," its "menacing behavior," its "traffic in monstrous antisemitism," and accused Iran of single-handedly destabilizing the Middle East. The use of abstract and degrading terminology to discuss Iran has a long history in American politics. -Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi 1/5/20

Since she was a kid, Yassamin has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving others through public service. Yassamin began her career as a John Gardner Public Service Fellow at the United Nations, where she served as the youngest member of the climate team that advised former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and helped to deliver the historic Paris Agreement. Later, she was appointed as the Director of the Climate Action 2016 Summit in Washington, DC, and worked with the Office of Governor Jerry Brown where she served as the Deputy Director of Policy for the Global Climate Action Summit. -PAAIA 12/24/19

Every morning, Hedieh Yazdanseta gets up by 5am and pulls up the US state department's website on her phone, tapping in a case number made up of 13 digits and letters she has long memorized. She holds her breath as the page slowly loads, but disappointment quickly settles in when she sees her case is still in "administrative processing". For the past two years, those words have kept Yazdanseta and her husband, Mohsen Rahmani, thousands of miles apart and unable to start the life they want to live together -Lauren Aratani, Guardian 12/24/19

With the holidays and a long school break almost here and many families gathering together, we reached out to those who have been affected by President Trump's travel ban to see how they and their relatives are managing. Most of the people we heard from were Iranian or had ties to the country. -Aidan Gardiner, New York Times 12/23/19

On the eve of the winter solstice, members of Newfoundland and Labrador's Iranian community are celebrating as Yalda celebrations are set to begin. Yalda is an annual celebration on the Iranian calendar that falls on the night of the winter solstice, this year landing on Dec. 22. The day marks the longest and darkest night of the year. Azadeh Haddad and Sharzhad Mostaan came to Newfoundland from Iran, and are members of the Iranian students' association at Memorial University. -Alex Kennedy, CBC 12/21/19

At our core, we are a team of young, forward-thinking Iranian Americans and allies who wake up every morning to serve our community. We are the thousands of donors and volunteers who believe that it's crucial to have an independent American civil society organization to give Iranian Americans a voice for peace, justice, and civil rights. -NIAC 12/18/19

Whether Afshin Ghotbi is the most successful American coach working today is something that can be debated but when it comes to a variety of soccer experiences, surely this 55-year-old stands head and shoulders above the rest. Only one thing is missing: a job back in the USA. A top job anyway. It is now 21 years since he went to the 1998 World Cup as part of Steve Sampson's coaching staff when the United States, his home since the age of 13, lost 2-1 to Iran, the land of his birth, in Lyon. -John Duerden, Guardian 12/18/19

"Get involved," encouraged Ethan Azad - the National Iranian American Council's Ali Youssefi Congressional Fellow - "and don't wait for people to make the changes that you want to see in the world happen because there's less of those people than you'd expect." Ethan is currently working in the office of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) as part of NIAC's revitalized Congressional Fellowship, named in honor of NIAC's former board chair Ali Youssefi. 12/15/19

The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), the connected PAC of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), today proudly announces its endorsement of Sarah Beeson for Georgia State Senate District 56. Sarah Zibanejadrad Beeson is a businesswoman who runs her family's company that has been based in Georgia State Senate District 56 for more than two decades. If successful, she will be the second Iranian American elected to the Georgia State Senate. 12/11/19

San Francisco State University announced that the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies received an additional $1 million from alumna and Iranian American philanthropist Neda Nobari, building upon her generous gift of $5 million from June 2016 that established the first-of-its-kind center. Administered under the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, the center is dedicated to research and teachings that examine the historical and cultural experiences of the global Iranian diaspora. -SFSU 12/10/19

Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) has released the findings of its 2019 National Public Opinion Survey of Iranian Americans, which reveals that tensions in both the wider U.S. society and between the United States and Iran are felt by the Iranian American community. 10/15/19

A coalition of Iranian American organizations, including the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), and Pars Equality Center released the following statement after sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan requesting clarity regarding recent en masse visa cancellations and entry denials of students of Iranian nationality 10/8/19

The campaign of silencing the true opposition has now spread to Facebook. Coordinated attacks are waged against any Facebook page that espouses opposition to the policies of the Trump administration, Saudi Arabia, and Israel toward Iran, including economic sanctions and war, as well as military intervention in other countries. In addition, the Facebook pages of anyone who counters the efforts by pro-monarchist groups promoting Reza Pahlavi are also attacked. -Muhammad Sahimi 9/27/19

"I was truly honored to be cast in the role of Nikita. Harley is an amazingly talented filmmaker and I had fabulous cast and crew mates to collaborate with. It was my first role as a scientist and has opened the door for me to play other scientists and academics. While I never did become an academic like my dad wanted, it's a nod to the family business if you will, which is education and I did play a super smart woman," said Ghaffari. 9/14/19

MSP Film Society presents the second annual MSP Iranian Film Festival August 15-18, 2019 at the Film Society's Screen 3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Festival showcases acclaimed and award-winning new Iranian cinema, and presents a variety of themes, genres, and perspectives of contemporary Iran. 8/9/19

I definitely understand what the young Somali emigre, now a congresswoman from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, has been going through. I understand how it feels to be told "Why don't you go back to where you came from." Or, "If you don't like it here, you can just leave!" I got used to being called a damn "furner" by my supervisor, a semi-literate redneck from Alabama, who was the "Party Chief" of a seismic exploration crew where I worked fresh out of college. -Kambiz Zarrabi 7/19/19

Iran's Judiciary has confirmed the arrest of French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron said he had raised the issue with Tehran. Macron demanded an explanation on July 15 from Iran after the arrest last month of Adelkhah, a researcher with the prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies, who is believed to have been arrested by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on suspicion of spying. -RFE/RL 7/16/19

Considerable evidence emerged late this week connecting the U.S. State Department to a Twitter account that has engaged in online attacks against human rights organizations, Iranian-American activists, journalists, and others advocating against the escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran. The revelation is raising questions about whether the Trump administration is using federal funds to propagandize in favor of a potential Iran war. -Derek Davison 6/1/19

Iranian-American organizations are actively campaigning against a U.S. war with Iran encouraging members of community to write to their members of Congress urging them to support the Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act. 5/13/19

A unique and entertaining benefit concert featuring local artists. Proceeds from this concert will support the victims of the recent floods in Iran. The program will include performances by Naser Sheikhzadehgan, Amir Nojan, Amir Abbas Etemadi, Narges Jajarmi, Safi Rouhi and other local musicians. We are also excited to present to you vocal music by Shiraz Arts Academy Choir conducted by Amin Assadi. 4/20/19

Iranian sculptor Masoud Akhavanjam will exhibit two large scale, stainless steel sculptures, as part of the GAA Foundation's PERSONAL STRUCTURES - open borders exhibition, in the context of the 2019 Venice Biennale. The sculptures, Dilemma of Man and Metamorphosis will be exhibited publicly in Venice's waterfront park, Giardini Marinaressa from 5 May to 29 November 2019. Akhavanjam's industrial yet delicate forms draw on philosophy, contemporary socio-political issues and Persian mythology, so that within each work a didactic tale is contained. Both works contain three visible figures, melded seemingly effortlessly into each other. 4/20/19

Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, a House member from the state of Hawaii, and a Democratic candidate for the Presidential election of 2020 has issued a delightful message for Norooz. In her message, she says, " the beginning of Spring is such a beautiful metaphor for a new start and beginnings." Her positive initiative and outreach should be welcomed and celebrated by the Iranian community anywhere in the world. -Farid Marjai 3/27/19

An international conference hosted by San Francisco State University brings together the Iranian American diaspora -- one that has flourished, noticed or not, in the Bay Area. -Ida Mojadad, SF Weekly 3/21/19

People gathered in Union Square Saturday, March 9, 2019 to commence Persian New Year Celebrations. Norooz (also spelled Nowruz) takes place on March 21 this year, however traditional activities happen for the weeks before and after the actual date. This event was hosted by Norooz Outreach and is the first event in what they anticipate will be an annual recurrence. -SF Examnanier 3/11/19

The most colorful and lively festival of the year marking the arrival of spring, The Farhang Foundation Nowruz (the Iranian New Year) is back. This event has become the largest Nowruz festival in the United States. The special celebration brings together a variety of programming and excitement for all ages to enjoy. The daylong festival is free and open to the public for the 11th Annual Nowruz (the Iranian New Year) celebration at UCLA's Dickson Court, taking place on Sunday, March 10, 2019. 3/2/19

Every year, millions celebrate Persian New Year, or Norooz. This year for the first time ever, we are bringing the Persian New Year to the Florida Capitol! Join us we share Persian food, music, and dance to all of Florida! -Hosted by Office of Representative Anna V. Eskamani 3/1/19

The first Iranian-American woman to win an Oscar, Rayka Zehtabchi, says she wants to build on Sunday's triumph of her documentary about menstruation by producing several films with Iran-related themes. -Michael Lipin, VOA 2/27/19

NIAC Action is proud to announce its official endorsement of Yasmine Taeb, candidate for Virginia's 35th Senate District. Yasmine is waging a primary challenge against the Virginia Senate's Democratic Minority Leader, Dick Saslaw. 2/20/19

Doostan Norooz party 2019 is the annual Doostan fund-raising events and a chance to thank our generous community for their continued support and donations by celebrating the start of the Persian New Year together and as a family of friends in this magnificent Dinner & Dance event. 2/19/19

Rising basketball player Mike Rostampour has been invited to Iran national basketball team. The 6ft 8in (2.03m) Minnesota-born forward has never seen action for the Iran national squad before, but has significant international basketball experience. 2/6/19

Vancouver has added Norooz, the Persian new year festivity, to its official celebrations and observations calendar. Vancouver City Council has put the event on the calendar of the Canadian metropolis to recognize an intangible heritage of Iranians and other immigrants who celebrate the first day of the spring and the renewal of nature, IRNA reported on Saturday. 2/5/19

Norooz Outreach and Diaspora Arts Connection proudly present the inaugural all-day "Norooz Spring Festival," celebrating the arrival of Spring on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Share the Norooz spirit by bringing your non-Persian friends and join us for a day of celebrations and festivities, including food, live-music, dance, Persian calligraphy and miniatures, activities for children, and other demonstrations of the symbols of Norooz. 1/28/19

The lawyer for Meimanat Hosseini-Chavoshi says the Australian-based academic has been released by Tehran, which held her for more than a month on charges of trying to "infiltrate" Iranian institutions. Hosseini-Chavoshi, a dual Iranian-Australian citizen who works at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, was released by the court "a few days ago," her lawyer Mahmoud Behzadi said on January 27, according to the state news agency IRNA. 1/28/19

A British-Iranian professor who had been held in Iran since April has returned to England. Abbas Edalat, who teaches mathematics and computer science at Imperial College London, was arrested and held on unspecified security charges. -VOA 12/26/18

The United States has granted fewer visas to Iranian students over the past months, a trend that is blamed on President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban on Iran and several other Muslim nations. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), which tracks foreign students in the US, there are around 12,800 Iranians studying in the country, the highest in decades. However, there are signs the figure is taking a nosedive. -Press TV 11/26/18

A mystical way to ring in the holiday season as well as Yalda (the winter solstice), the evening will begin with Persian poetry curated by Roger Sedarat and special guests, and then launch into the main event, Aida Shahghasemi with a full band. 11/16/18

Democratic state Rep.-elect Anna Eskamani has been no stranger to national media coverage throughout her campaign, and now her election in House District 47 Tuesday also is drawing attention of Iranian media and international media broadcasting into Iran. -Scott Powers, Florida Politics 11/9/18

PAAIA congratulates Anna Eskamani, Anna Kaplan, Zahra Karinshak, and Sam Hamadani for making history in the 2018 midterm elections. Of the five Iranian American candidates endorsed by IAPAC, PAAIA's connected political action committee, four were successful in their campaigns. These women have become the first Iranian Americans to be elected to the New York, Georgia, and Florida state legislatures, and the first Iranian American judge to be elected in North Carolina. 11/7/18

The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), the registered bipartisan connected political action committee of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), proudly supports five Iranian American women who are leading impressive campaigns in their respective races and who will be on the ballot in the November 6th General Election. 11/6/18

A number of Iranian-Americans have responded with anger after U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham quipped in an interview that it would be "terrible" if DNA testing revealed that he had Iranian ancestry. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL 10/19/18

Appearing on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made offensive comments when he joked that if he took a DNA test, it would probably show that he was "Iranian" and "that'd be, like, terrible." 10/17/18

The Swedish Academy on October 5 announced it had elected an Iranian-born poet and a Swedish judge as new members in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal that forced it to postpone awarding a Nobel prize in literature this year. 10/6/18

Today, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) released the findings of its 2018 National Public Opinion Survey of Iranian Americans, revealing concerns over increased discrimination and U.S. policy towards Iran. More than three-quarters of respondents are worried about increased discrimination against Iranian Americans, and nearly half (49%) report that they have personally experienced discrimination. 10/4/18

Gina Cody, MEng 81, PhD 89, is the first woman ever to be awarded a PhD in building engineering at Concordia. On September 24, 2018, Cody made a $15 million gift to Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. In recognition of her generosity and tremendous professional accomplishments, the faculty was renamed the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. It became the first engineering faculty in Canada named after a woman and one of the first of its kind in the world. 10/1/18

Today the Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), the connected PAC of PAAIA, proudly announced its endorsement of Democratic nominee Shireen Ghorbani for Utah's 2nd Congressional District Race. If elected, Shireen would be the first American of Iranian descent to hold a position as a member of Congress. 9/14/18

Sharif University of Technology Association (SUTA), together with the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California Irvine, and the Iranian-Americans' Contributions Project (IACP), are proud to present the day-long Iranian-American Innovation Forum, in the Pacific Ballroom of UC-Irvine, on Saturday September 15th, 2018. 9/10/18

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Ehsan Yarshater on September 2, 2018 in Fresno, California. Endowed with a rare combination of a bold and broad scholarly vision, immense erudition, and unfailing determination, Professor Ehsan Yarshater transformed Iranian studies, creating an enduring legacy at Columbia University which advanced the scholarship and understanding of the histories, cultures and accomplishments of Iranian peoples. 9/4/18

A prominent U.S. human rights activist and the international attorney of Iranian-U.S. dual citizens Baquer and Siamak Namazi has linked his clients' case to the Iran-U.S. Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights. -Radio Farda 8/30/18

The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), the connected PAC of PAAIA, has announced its endorsement of Shabnam Lofti for Wisconsin's 77th District State Assembly. If elected, she would be the first Iranian American to serve in the Wisconsin Legislature. 8/6/18

Two years after being sentenced to long prison sentences without due process in Iran, Iranian American Karan Vafadari and his American permanent resident wife Afarin Neyssari were released on bail from Tehran's Evin Prison on July 21, 2018. 7/25/18

Washington, D.C. - Jamal Abdi, Vice President for Policy of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement in advance of Sec. Mike Pompeo's address on Iran in California this evening. The National Iranian American Council organized a letter from prominent Iranian Americans objecting to the Trump administration's efforts to destabilize Iran, which was featured in a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times today: 7/23/18

The Trump administration on Sunday blasted the Iranian government as a kleptocracy that has amassed wealth at the cost of its people, the latest in a series of jabs at Iran's leadership following the United States' withdrawal from the nuclear deal. -Los Angeles Times 7/23/18

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will reach out to a divided Iranian-American community -- some of whom are dismayed by Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the reimposition of sanctions as well as a travel ban that prevents many Iranians from entering the United States -- in a July 22 speech near Los Angeles. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL 7/21/18