Posts by JamalAbdi:

Sponsor of Iran War Bills Backs Netanyahu Speech

February 5th, 2015

 

 

By Jamal Abdi.

 



Washington D.C – The Congressman responsible for several pushes for military action against Iran is now leading an effort to ensure that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is given Congressional platform to oppose the Iran nuclear talks.

Representative Trent Franks, who has introduced legislation authorizing war against Iran,condemning the nuclear talks and insisting on outlandish demands, and demanding Congress hold a veto over any final nuclear deal, is now circulating a letter in support of a Netanyahu’s planned address before Congress.

House Speaker John Boehner,  facing backlash for his controversial invitation to bring Netanyahu to Congress just weeks before Israeli elections and in the midst of a domestic standoff over Iran sanctions, may not see much benefit from Franks’  effort. Already, those opposing the talks and supporting the Netanyahu visit have faced criticism that they prefer a war over a nuclear deal; gaining the backing of those in Congress who overtly pro-war only reinforces that criticism.

The White House has called the invite a “breach of protocol.”  American officials, military leaders, and members of Congress have warned the invitation is a dangerous and perhaps unconstitutional attempt to undermine a sitting U.S. President. Netanyahu is expected to use the planned March 3rd speech to promote new sanctions that the White House has threatened to veto and which diplomats involved in the nuclear negotiations say would torpedo the talks.

“Two decades ago…Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress, warning of the danger that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism posed to world security,” reads the Franks letter, which is also being led by Representatives Lee Zeldin (R-NY) and Lance Leonard (R-NJ). “Four years ago, the Prime Minister was here with the same message. Unfortunately his warnings went unheeded, and now – after continuing negotiations have failed to produce tangible results – Iran is closer than ever to obtaining nuclear weapons, while its terrorist proxies are operating unhindered, sowing chaos across the Middle East.”

The Franks letter comes on the heels of a different Congressional letter urging Boehner to postpone the speech until after the Israeli elections and the deadline for a nuclear deal with Iran. “As members of Congress who support Israel, we share concern that it appears that you are using a foreign leader as a political tool against the President,” write Representatives Keith Ellison (D-MN), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Steve Cohen (D-TN). Their letter, which is still being circulated for signatures says that Boehner’s invitation “has the potential to harm U.S. foreign policy” and “appears to be an attempt to promote new sanctions legislation against Iran that could undermine critical negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran.”

For Franks, however, undermining the negotiations has been precisely the point. Like Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK), who has said explicitly that he supports new sanctions because they would kill the Iran talks, Franks has been forthcoming about his intentions. In addition to his past attempts to press for war with Iran, he has also helped lead Congressional efforts to condemn the negotiations and to pledge U.S. backing if Israel decides to launch military strikes against Iran. Franks is also a vocal supporter of the Mujahedin-e Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group that advocates armed resistance against Iran and was listed as a terrorist organization until 2012.

As it stands, Netanyahu’s speech will proceed as planned. But as the two Congressional letters remain in circulation, some members of the House and Senate have begun issuing statements opposing the speech and indicating they will not attend if the address moves forward. Vice President Joe Biden has been noncommittal as to whether he will attend the session, as is customary, and the White House has made clear that the President and Cabinet officials will not meet with Netanyahu. By the time March 3rd comes, instead of his typical visit to the White House and bipartisan reception, Netanyahu may have to settle for a meeting with Trent Franks and his allies in the pro-war camp.

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U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Now Stronger Than Netanyahu’s Pressure

March 14th, 2014

 

By Jamal Abdi.

 

Washington, DC – Three Congressional letters are being sent the President regarding nuclear negotiations with Iran. The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is pleased that Congress is not passing sanctions or measures that will restrict negotiators. The new political reality in Washington is that there is overwhelming support for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran and efforts to undermine negotiations have proven unsuccessful.

“The status quo, in which Netanyahu visits Washington, addresses AIPAC, and Congress agrees to slap new sanctions on Iran, has been turned on its head,” said NIAC Policy Director Jamal Abdi. “The White House, leaders in Congress, outside organizations, and the American people have all put their foot down and said that we don’t want a war and more sanctions, we want to give diplomacy a chance.”

Of the three letters being sent, NIAC opposed one but remained neutral on the others because the letters met key principles outlined in a joint organizational letter and in correspondence between NIAC and members of Congress.

The letter opposed by NIAC, led by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Menendez and Senator Graham, includes guidelines for negotiations that can easily be construed by opponents of a diplomatic solution to force the U.S. to violate the terms of the preliminary agreement. NIAC urges those who signed the letter to clarify that this letter does not require zero enrichment or dismantlement of a civilian Iranian nuclear program, and that they do not support a vote on new Iran sanctions.

Conversely, while NIAC had concerns with some language in letters organized in the House by Majority Leader Cantor and Minority Whip Hoyer, and in the Senate by Armed Services Chairman Levin, these letters ultimately honor the terms of the preliminary agreement between Iran and the P5+1 and do not set preconditions for negotiators.

Most importantly, all three letters indicated that Congress will work with the administration to lift sanctions if a final deal is struck.

“As negotiations have progressed, some in Congress have wasted a lot of valuable time talking about ratcheting up Iran sanctions almost as if by force of habit,” said Abdi. “More and more in Congress are now realizing that we may soon see a final deal that takes an Iranian nuclear weapon off the table for good, but that the sanctions will need to be lifted in order to lock that deal in.”

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Bank of Hawaii Re-opens Accounts for Iranians in U.S.

March 12th, 2014

 

By Jamal Abdi.

 

Washington, DC – NIAC welcomes the decision by Bank of Hawaii to re-open bank accounts for Iranian customers. After receiving reports that the bank had terminated the accounts of Iranian customers in the U.S. in an effort to comply with U.S. financial sanctions against Iran, NIAC called on the bank to reverse the decision and worked to facilitate a solution with the bank and the Department of Treasury that meets sanctions compliance requirements while not punishing Iranians in the United States. NIAC applauds Bank of Hawaii for acting promptly and for satisfactorily addressing all concerns.

Bank of Hawaii issued the following statement:

“Bank of Hawaii, in consultation with its technology providers, regulators and advocacy groups such as the National Iranian American Council (“NIAC”), has developed a solution to allow it to once again make accounts available to Iranian residents.

“In recent months, we have had to take steps to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions regarding Iran, in particular those prohibiting access to U.S. bank accounts by persons in Iran.  Unfortunately, this placed burdens on customers whose primary residence was indicated as Iran but who reside in the United States. (Iranian customers whose primary residence is in the U.S. are not subject to the same restrictions). Bank of Hawaii strongly values its relationship with our Iranian customers and with the Iranian-American community, and we regret any inconvenience this has caused.

“We plan to contact the seventeen customers whose accounts were closed, and to provide them with information about restarting their banking relationships with Bank of Hawaii in the next week or so. As part of the solution, areas where access will need to be restricted are banking-by-mail and transactions over the telephone. Access through debit cards, checks, ATMs and over the internet will be available while the customers are in the U.S.

“Bank of Hawaii thanks NIAC for its outreach and efforts to help us craft a solution that meets the banking needs of Iranian residents while adhering to its obligations under the U.S. Government’s economic sanctions program.”

NIAC is pleased that this issue has been resolved. While broad sanctions have created significant compliance issues for banks and private companies, it is critical that these policies do not negate the basic rights and protections afforded to Iranian citizens in the United States.

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The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community. We accomplish our mission by supplying the resources, knowledge and tools to enable greater civic participation by Iranian Americans and informed decision-making by policymakers.

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