WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2017: Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) hosted a Congressional briefing to offer its recommendations for the new administration on U.S. policy approach towards Iran.
Before a packed House briefing room and members of the media, senior bipartisan members of Congress called for urgent U.S. government action to hold Iranian regime accountable for its egregious human rights violations and its support for international terrorism.
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), reminded the audience that, “We’ve got a new administration taking office and this is a great time to review our policy.”
Elliot Engle (D-NY), Foreign Affairs Committee’s Ranking Member described the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “horribly evil” entity, adding, “We are all united in this; democrats, republicans; we’re all united because we won’t stop until we see a free Iran.”
The United States needs, “to work forward and walk forward and aggressively to help the pro-democracy movement in Iran, … helping those who would replace the mullahs,” representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) underscored. Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) noted that Iranian regime’s supreme leader is at war with mankind but is, “first at war with his own people – your families, your friends in Iran, anyone who speaks against the ayatollah.”
Brad Sherman (D-CA) referenced legislations he has introduced:“ the title of the bill (H.R.478 ) says it all: To Require the Imposition of Sanctions Against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Period.” Refering to the opposition’s elected President, he added; “Maryam Rajavi is leading an organization that is helping the world expose and deal with the terrorism of the Islamic Republic…the entire world owes to the MEK for exposing Iran’s nuclear weapons program.”
Other prominent House members also spoke on the need for reassessment of U.S. Iran policy. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) said in her remarks, “We must make sure that we again have a free Iran with no war, no aggression, no appeasement.” Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) similarly said of Iranian government behavior, “Human rights, violations of U.N., and the stockpiling of nuclear materials – all of these are violations.”
OIAC Political Director, Dr. Majid Sadeghpour presented the organizations’ recommendations on U.S. Iran policy for the new administration by welcoming congressional measures to sanction the IRGC. Sadeghpour noted, “it would weaken this prominent pillar of Iran’s religious dictatorship.”
SOURCE OIAC
