Iranian Expatriates Urge Diplomacy

Several Iranian American organizations, spearheaded by the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) and the National Iranian American Council, have launched a letter to the leaders of Iran, the UK and the US urging these countries to give diplomacy a chance. A broad range of organizations, representing "vastly different views" have signed the letter, because they "feel a connection with both our homes in the West and the finest core values of the societies in which we are living, and with the country of Iran and its cultural traditions."

The letter states that in order to prevent military confrontation, "the way forward must be through serious and genuine dialogue. The rhetoric of mutual demonization, reckless threats and brinksmanship must be left out of that dialogue. Negotiations must be based on the recognition of the legitimate concerns of all parties for physical security, economic security (including energy security) and national sovereignty."

According to the letter: "We urge the leaders of the U.S., the U.K. and Iran to set aside all pre-conditions and resume direct and open negotiations on all issues of dispute, to bring about a lowering of tensions, to create an opening for meaningful progress toward understanding, and to envision a Middle East in which all its residents can coexist and together address the common problems of violence, poverty, illness and environmental degradation."

New York Vigil for Detained Iranian American Scholars

In May the government of Iran arrested four Iranian–Americans: prominent U.S. scholars Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh, journalist Parnaz Azima and activist Ali Shakeri. Esfandiari, Tajbakhsh and Shakeri remain in detention without being able to see family, lawyers, or the ICRC. All four face serious charges stemming from their efforts to promote an Iranian–American dialogue and scholarly work and could be sentenced to long prison terms.

Amnesty International, the American-Islamic Congress, Human Rights Watch, Vital Voices Global Partnership, the Near Eastern Studies Department of Princeton University, and several other organizations will hold a vigil in New York on Wednesday, June 27. The purpose of the vigil is two-fold: to urge that all charges against Haleh Esfandiari and the other 3 Iranian-Americans be dropped, and that the Iranian government immediately release Dr. Esfandiari and the other three Iranian-American detainees. It will take place across from the United Nations headquarters in New York City at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, from 12 – 1 p.m.

For more information contact Sharon McCarter 202-691-4016 or Amnesty International USA 202-675-8755.

Free Kian

On Friday, May 11, 2007, Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh was arrested in Tehran and has been held in Evin Prison since then. Kian is one of four prominent Iranian American's to be arrested in the last month.

Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh is an internationally-respected scholar, social scientist and urban planner. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, and has taught at both American and Iranian universities. Dr. Tajbakhsh is also an international expert in the areas of local government reform, urban planning, public health, and social policy. He has consulted for several Iranian government organizations, including the Municipalities Organization, the Social Security Organization, and the Ministry of the Interior, and with international nongovernmental organizations such as the World Bank, the Open Society Institute, and the Netherlands Association of Municipalities. His work in Iran has included evaluating humanitarian relief and rebuilding projects in the aftermath of the devastating 2003 earthquake in Bam.

Friends of Kian have launched a petition and campaign for his release at FreeKian.org.

Here is an Op-Ed in Pakistan's Daily Times on the arrest of the prominent Iranian Americans and why these arrests are deterring reconciliation.

Opportunities for Action

The following resources provide action and education opportunities on US-Iran-related matters.
After Downing Street has a “Don’t Attack Iran” petition, with more than 100,000 signatures to date. Visit: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/iran

The Arms Control Association contains a comprehensive and chronological series of articles on Iran’s nuclear dispute:
http://www.armscontrol.org/country/iran/

The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) is publishing a series of Discussion Papers on Iran’s nuclear program and its international legal and geopolitical context. The first paper, "General, you have the advantage of time: Iran's Response to the US Military Option", by Sam Gardiner, is available at: http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Papers/iran_discussion_paper_no1.pdf. We also publish with Crisis Action, Iran Update, a free weekly email news and comment digest on the diplomatic movements over Iran's nuclear program. Read current and back issues at: http://www.basicint.org/updates/iran.htm

The Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) website contains articles and resources promoting US-Iran dialogue at: http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/

Cato Institute scholars are speaking in about a dozen cities over the next few months, specifically discussing policy options vis-à-vis Iran. If your organization has grassroots in the cities where the speaking tour will be, please encourage them to organize events in local venues or help coordinate local media. To read Cato’s analyses and recommendations for US policy towards Iran, visit: www.cato.org. For more information on helping to organize the speaking tour, please contact: Christopher Preble, Director of Foreign Policy Studies, cpreble@cato.org or (202) 218-4630.

The Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation’s website contains information on the devastating impact of a nuclear strike on Iran: http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/archives/002255.php

The Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation has an outreach program over the next 18 months featuring former senior military officers who are participating in a speaking tour in ten cities across the United States to engage the American public and opinion leaders in dialogue on national security issues, including effective measures to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons as well as policy options related to the nuclear aspirations of Iran. For further information and to find out whether the retired military officers can speak to your community, please contact Leonor Tomero at ltomero@armscontrocenter.org or (202) 546-0795 ext 119.

The Council for a Livable World provides a “Letter to the Editor” action resource and various resources on the Iran nuclear issue at its website: http://www.clw.org/policy/iran
CLW also has a comprehensive list of legislative initiatives on Iran at: http://www.clw.org/policy/iran/legislative_initiatives_on_iran/index.html

Enough Fear is an international effort to prevent war between the US and Iran and the campaign is collecting photos of Americans and Iranians on its website to demonstrate solidarity in this cause. http://www.enoughfear.org/.

Faithful Security, an interfaith group, also drafted a petition calling for direct talks between the US and Iran and it can be viewed at: http://www.faithfulsecurity.org/

Friends Committee on National Legislation is doing a speaking tour, featuring Joe Volk, FCNL Executive Director, who recently returned from Iran on a religious delegation. For more information or find out if Joe is available to speak in your community, please contact Jim Cason at jim@fcnl.org.

The Hip Hop Caucus is doing a “Make Hip Hop, Not War” tour this spring. If your organization has grassroots in the cities where the speaking tour will be, please encourage them to organize events in local venues or help coordinate local media. For more information on speaking tour dates, contact Liz Havstad at liz@hiphopcaucus.org.

Iran Nuclear Watch is a blog maintained by Carah Ong at:
http://irannuclearwatch.blogspot.com/

Just Foreign Policy has an action page where you can write to your Representatives in support of the Jones and DeFazio resolutions against attacking Iran: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/warpowers.html.
It also keeps a tally of which Representatives have signed on: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/iran_resolutions_ooi.htm .
It has a searchable archive of articles in the press about Iran: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/.

Ray McGovern is available to speak to your organization or community on intelligence-related aspects of the US-Iran situation. For more information, contact Ray at: (703) 994- 1459 or by email at: rrmcgovern@aol.com

MoveOn.org has a “Stop Bush from Escalating into Iran” petition. Visit: http://pol.moveon.org/noescalationiniran/.

National Iranian American Council’s (NIAC) LegWatch program provides weekly news updates on Capitol Hill activity concerning Iran: http://www.niacouncil.org/ and offers issue briefs and memos through their US-Iran Media Resource Project
http://www.niacouncil.org/us-iran.asp

Peace Action’s “No War with Iran" petition drive has gathered more than 50,000 signatures to date. For more information on this petition or to become a signatory, visit: http://www.peace-action.org/Iranpetition.html

Peace Action’s Organizing, Political and PAC Director, Paul Kawika Martin, was part of a Fellowship of Reconciliation delegation to Iran in late February 2007. To find out whether Paul can speak to your organization or community, please contact him at: pmartin@peace-action.org or (301) 565-4050 x 316.

Physicians for Social Responsibility is leading an ad campaign, with efforts from other organizations, based on a phrase developed by Jim Walsh, “If you like war in Iraq, then you’ll love war with Iran.” The ad can now be used by local groups across the country to run in their papers. For more information, contact Ira Shorr at PSR at ishorr@psr.org.

The Project on Defense Alternatives has a new web page with critical perspectives on the current crisis, its origins, and implications. For more information, please visit: http://www.comw.org/pda/0702iran.html.

StopIranWar.com, set up by Wesley Clark and VoteVets.org, houses a petition urging President Bush to enter into dialogue with Iran. The site also provides a “Write a Letter to the Editor” resource to send letters to your local newspaper. For more information, visit: http://www.stopiranwar.org/.

United for Peace and Justice offers a “No War on Iran” campaign site at: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3240.

Win Without War, Fourth Freedom Forum and Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation sponsored a statement from former military leaders and top ex-security advisors urging President Bush to engage in unconditional talks with Iran: http://www.winwithoutwarus.org/html/press_8.17.06.htm

Wes Clark and VoteVets Start StopIranWar.com

On 20 February 2007, Wes Clark and VoteVets.org launched Stop Iran War.com. According to the new site:

"All Americans want to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and interfering on the ground inside Iraq. Yet President Bush’s saber rattling gives the US little additional leverage to engage and dissuade Iran, and, more than likely, simply accelerates a dangerous slide into war. The United States can do better than this."

On the campaign site, they have a petition which individuals can send to President Bush. It reads:

"I demand that you stop the rush to war with Iran. I urge you to use every option available to defuse tensions with Iran -- diplomatic, political, and economic -- before even considering military force. Military force must be viewed as the last resort -- not the first option. War is not the answer."