For decades, the United States has had a reactive approach to the Middle East, scrambling to contain conflicts instigated by Iran and its proxies while ignoring the source of the region’s war and terrorism – the theocratic regime in Tehran. Instead of confronting regime’s aggression head-on, successive American administrations have resorted to a futile policy of appeasement – epitomized by the Obama and Biden administrations’ policies of accommodation through sanctions relief and nuclear negotiations... Read More

In February 2023, 165 bipartisan members of the United States House of Representatives introduced H. Res. 100 – “Expressing support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran, and condemning violations of human rights and state-sponsored terrorism by the Iranian Government.” The introduction of H. Res. 100 was accompanied by a press conference addressed by lawmakers and joined – via Zoom – by Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, who is the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)... Read More

Despite the regime’s efforts to brutally suppress the uprisings, Iranian protesters show no sign of relenting in their quest for freedom. Popular slogans like “death to the dictator” and “for each person killed another thousand will rise” reflect a society that is committed to fight until the last breath to overthrow the ruling theocracy. Change takes time, but it is clear that Iran is witnessing the beginnings of a revolution that will not end until the entirety of the religious theocracy has been overthrown and replaced with a democratic government... Read More

In its first months in office, the Biden administration has signaled its eagerness to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. This would be a mistake. For years, pundits have warned that Iran is on the brink of a nuclear breakout that can only be prevented through diplomatic concessions to Tehran. These fears have never come to fruition, but the threat of Iranian nuclear proliferation has routinely led Washington down the path of appeasing Iran—most notably through the Obama administration’s nuclear deal. While a nuclear Iran would be a catastrophic threat to American interests, overfocusing on the nuclear issue risks blinding policymakers to more immediate concerns such as missile proliferation, terrorism, and human rights... Read More

Five years ago, the Obama administration made a gamble on a diplomatic experiment with Iran — a gamble that failed miserably. Unfortunately, the United States and its allies still live with the consequences of President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.... Read More

The tragic death of George Floyd created a beautiful moment of international solidarity. From Idlib, Syria to Berlin, Germany, protesters have expressed empathy and support for Black Americans fighting racial injustice. But while it is important to recognize this solidarity, we also cannot overlook the hypocritical attempts by authoritarian regimes to hijack the movement for their own gain. The opportunistic mullahs in Iran have quickly jumped on growing social animosity in the United States to shape their own political narratives... Read More

Washington, DC - I addressed a conference about human rights and democracy in Iran. The event was hosted by the Organization of Iranian-American Communities (OIAC). Speakers included Fmr. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, General Wesley Clark, Fmr. National Security Advisor James Jones, and Ambassador Robert Joseph. Watch

Washington, DC - I addressed a crowd of Iranian-Americans at a rally on Capitol Hill.
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Los Angeles, CA - I spoke on a panel at the 2020 Free Iran Convention. I shared the stage with prominent Iranian-American activists and distinguished speakers Senator Robert Torricelli, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield, Professor Ivan Sacha Sheehan, and General James Conway.
The convention, which was attended by 1,200+ Iranian-Americans, was focused on supporting the Iranian protesters in the November 2019 uprisings. The speakers focused on various topics related to human rights including women's rights, Iran's economic mismanagement, and democratic movements within the country.
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