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{{Short description|Anti-Iranian government advocacy group}}
{{notability|date=April 2018}}
{{Third-party|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Organization {{Infobox organization
⚫ |name = Organization of Iranian American Communities
|logo = File:Organization of Iranian American Communities logo.jpg | name = Organization of Iranian American Communities
⚫ | logo = File:Organization of Iranian American Communities logo.png
|abbreviation = OIAC | abbreviation = OIAC
|formation = {{Start date and age|2012}} | formation = {{Start date and age|2012}}
|headquarters = ], U.S. | headquarters = ], U.S.
|parent_organization= ]
|leader_title = Political Director | leader_title = Political Director
|leader_name = Majid Sadeghpour | leader_name = Majid Sadeghpour
|website = {{URL|http://www.oiac.org/}} | website = {{URL|http://www.oiac.org/}}
}} }}
The '''Organization of Iranian American Communities''' (OIAC) is an organization in the ]. The '''Organization of Iranian American Communities''' (OIAC) is an organization in the ].


The OIAC is allied with the ], or the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), which advocates the overthrow of the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-iran-opposition/4303135.html|title=US Senators Pledge Help to Iranian Group Seeking End to Iran's Islamist Rule|last=Lipin|first=Michael|date=17 March 2018|website=VOA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217191816/https://www.voanews.com/a/us-iran-opposition/4303135.html|archive-date=17 December 2018|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/|title=Long March of the Yellow Jackets: How a One-Time Terrorist Group Prevailed on Capitol Hill|last1=Gharib|first1=Ali|last2=Clifton|first2=Eli|date=26 February 2015|website=The Intercept|access-date=17 December 2018|archive-date=31 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331140458/https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/giuliani-to-speak-beside-leader-of-accused-iranian-cult|title=Giuliani to Speak Beside Leader of Accused Iranian 'Cult'|last=Ackerman|first=Spencer|date=19 September 2018|website=Daily Beast|access-date=17 December 2018|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328100812/https://www.thedailybeast.com/giuliani-to-speak-beside-leader-of-accused-iranian-cult|url-status=live}}</ref>
According to an article published by ] in 2013, the organization "inaccurately represented itself as a ]" and doesn’t appear in a federal database of such agencies.<ref name="NBC">{{cite news | authors=Wendy Fry and Monica Garske | title =Mayor Under Fire: Filner Says He’ll Pay for Paris Trip |work=NBC San Diego| url =http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Mayor-Bob-Filner-Will-Pay-for-Controversial-Trip-to-Paris-France-217845841.html | date=31 July 2013 | accessdate =1 February 2016}}</ref> The OIAC is known to be a ] for political arm of the ] (MEK), a listed ] from 1997 to 2012.<ref>{{citation|authors=Christopher C. Harmon, Randall G. Bowdish|title=The Terrorist Argument: Modern Advocacy and Propaganda|publisher=Brookings Institution Press|year=2018|isbn=9780815732198|page=301}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://lobelog.com/tom-cotton-allies-himself-with-the-mek/|title=Tom Cotton Allies Himself with the MEK|work=LobeLog|author=Eli Clifton|date=6 May 2015|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="A"/> The OIAC's office in ] is "located right next door to the ] office on Pennsylvania Avenue".<ref name="A">{{citation|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/lobbying-2017/iran|title=Trump rhetoric divides Iranian-Americans|work=Al-Monitor|author=Jack Detsch|date=12 December 2017|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>


'']'' has described it as part of the MEK's "opaque network" in the United States.<ref name="The Intercept">{{citation|url=https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/|title=Long March of the Yellow Jackets: How a One-Time Terrorist Group Prevailed on Capitol Hill|work=The Intercept|author=Ali Gharib, Eli Clifton|date=26 February 2015|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>
==History== ==History==
The OIAC was founded in 2012 with its present headquarters located in ], ] but it has been working as Iranian American Communities-US since 1997.<ref>{{cite news | last = | first = | title =Organization Of Iranian American Communities Oiac Inc in W Sacramento, California (CA) | newspaper =| location = | pages = | language = | publisher =''nonprofitfacts.com''| date = | url =http://www.nonprofitfacts.com/CA/Organization-Of-Iranian-American-Communities-Oiac-Inc.html | accessdate =1 February 2016}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|certain=y|date=April 2018}} Majid Sadeghpour is currently the Political Director of the organization.<ref>{{cite news | last = | first = | title =Iran is at the heart of radical Islam | newspaper =| location = | pages = | language = | publisher =''thehill.com''| date =20 January 2015 | url =http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/229948-iran-is-at-the-heart-of-radical-islam | accessdate =1 February 2016}}</ref> OIAC is an Iranian-American organization dedicated to the promotion of a free and democratic Iran where human rights are celebrated, where different religious traditions are honored, and where every Iranian citizen feels safe and able to pursue their individual dreams and aspirations. The Organization of Iranian-American Communities-US was originally established in 1997. In 2012, Iranian-American interest groups from 40 states joined forces to collaborate and work toward a vision of bringing peaceful, democratic change to Iran. OIAC is now the largest organization of Iranian-Americans in the US and serves as a powerful Iranian-American advocacy group. OIAC recognizes that a peaceful, free Iran requires an alternate government rather than the religious fascism which now engulfs Iran today. OIAC works toward that goal by supporting the efforts of Iranians in Iran to reform their government and by showcasing Persian-American culture here in the United States. Majid Sadeghpour is currently the Political Director of the organization.<ref>{{cite news | title =Iran is at the heart of radical Islam | newspaper =thehill.com | date =20 January 2015 | url =https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/229948-iran-is-at-the-heart-of-radical-islam/ | access-date =1 February 2016 | archive-date =13 March 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160313092513/http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/229948-iran-is-at-the-heart-of-radical-islam | url-status =live }}</ref>


OIAC does not support a foreign war, nor does it support an appeasement policy towards Iran. More specifically, OIAC supports the 10-point plans by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maryam Rajavi {{!}} President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) |url=https://www.maryam-rajavi.com/en/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Maryam Rajavi |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213123811/https://www.maryam-rajavi.com/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> for a democratic Iran that aligns with security for America and peace in the Middle East and beyond. OIAC works in collaboration with all Iranian-Americans and concerned citizens across the country to achieve its mission and vision. OIAC holds yearly protests outside the ] building against Iranian Presidents<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310233406/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2017-09-20/protesters-rally-against-iranian-president-at-un |date=2023-03-10 }} by REBECCA GIBIAN, ]; 20 September 2017</ref> and at times outside the ] "in solidarity with ]".<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310233411/https://wtop.com/white-house/2018/01/demonstrators-gather-wh-support-iranian-liberty-democracy/slide/1/ |date=2023-03-10 }}; By Dick Uliano, ], 6 January 2018</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/the-foreign-policy-aftermath-of-the-iran-protests-in-tehran-and-washington/|title=The Foreign Policy Aftermath of the Iran Protests, in Tehran and Washington|first=Ellen|last=Laipson|date=January 9, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2024|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806151014/https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/the-foreign-policy-aftermath-of-the-iran-protests-in-tehran-and-washington/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Joanne Stocker, "the Organization of Iranian American Communities have played a crucial role in securing broad, bipartisan support in the United States for the opposition group by successfully portraying the group as a democratic, human rights-supporting alternative to the current regime."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2019-08-13/ty-article/.premium/white-house-once-labeled-them-terrorists-now-it-calls-them-irans-next-government/0000017f-dc2a-db5a-a57f-dc6a244b0000|title=The White House Once Labeled Them Terrorists. Now They're Being Called Iran's Next Government|newspaper=]|access-date=2024-09-09|archive-date=2023-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104093744/http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2019-08-13/ty-article/.premium/white-house-once-labeled-them-terrorists-now-it-calls-them-irans-next-government/0000017f-dc2a-db5a-a57f-dc6a244b0000|url-status=live}}</ref> OIAC and its events have been targeted<ref>{{Cite news |title=U.S. court detains Calif. man charged with serving as agent of Iran, surveilling Americans |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/us-charges-two-men-with-serving-as-agents-of-iran-spying-on-americans-and-jewish-center/2018/08/20/e6d69252-a4bf-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html |access-date=2018-11-28 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |archive-date=2018-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129054410/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/us-charges-two-men-with-serving-as-agents-of-iran-spying-on-americans-and-jewish-center/2018/08/20/e6d69252-a4bf-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> by Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lipin |first=Michael |title=US Judge Denies Bond to Iranian Man Accused of Spying for Tehran |language=en |work=VOA |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/Iranian-spy/4539059.html |access-date=2018-11-28 |archive-date=2018-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100055/https://www.voanews.com/a/Iranian-spy/4539059.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
By February 2015, the OIAC claimed activity in 30 U.S. States.<ref name="The Intercept"/>

== Leadership ==
OIAC is led by political director Majid Sadeghpour. OIAC has a 3 members on the board of directors,<ref>{{Cite web |last=OIAC |title=Board of Directors {{!}} OIAC US |url=https://oiac.org/board-of-directors/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=OIAC |date=22 October 2015 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523190545/https://oiac.org/board-of-directors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 8 members on the board of advisors.,<ref>{{Cite web |last=OIAC |title=Board of Advisors {{!}} OIAC US |url=https://oiac.org/board-of-advisor/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=OIAC |date=17 June 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523185037/https://oiac.org/board-of-advisor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and 7 members in the governing body.<ref>{{Cite web |last=OIAC |title=Governing Body {{!}} OIAC US |url=https://oiac.org/governing-body/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=OIAC |date=7 August 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523185037/https://oiac.org/governing-body/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]


== Activities ==
=== Lobbying ===
According to '']'', the OIAC has spent millions of dollars for lobbying in favor of the MEK.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/20847-congressman-tom-cotton-makes-allies-of-radical-marxist-muslims|title=Senator Tom Cotton Makes Allies of Radical Marxist Muslims|author= Joe Wolverton|date=10 May 2015|access-date=20 April 2018|work=The New American}}</ref> '']'' reports that from January to December 2016, aligned with the NCRI efforts, the OIAC paid ] law firm $90,000 and is actively pressing the ] to recognize ].<ref name="A"/>
=== Organizing gatherings ===
The OIAC organized gatherings in front of the ] building against President ]<ref> by REBECCA GIBIAN, ]; 20 September 2017</ref> and the ] "in solidarity with ]".<ref>; By Dick Uliano, ], 6 January 2018</ref><ref></ref>
== Controversy ==
In 2013, the OIAC paid nearly one-third of the costs for the trip of then-] ] to ], which totaled $31,363.<ref name="NBC"/> Filner who attended the annual meetings of the MEK in 2007 and 2011 sponsered by an Iranian-born Colorado real estate broker Mehdi Ghaemi, appeared the event again in his trip.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jun/28/filner-visits-iranian-resistance-paris/|title=Filner Visits Iranian Resistance In Paris|work=The Daily Transcript|publisher=KPBS Public Broadcasting|author=Dean Calbreath|date=28 June 2013|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref> After the OIAC payment was placed under investigation for violation of state law by the ], Filner pledged to reimburse the costs.<ref name="NBC"/>
==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{reflist}}

==External links== ==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.oiac.org/}} * {{official website|https://www.oiac.org/}}

{{People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran}}
{{Iran–United States relations}}

] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 14:24, 10 December 2024

Anti-Iranian government advocacy group
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Organization of Iranian American Communities
AbbreviationOIAC
Formation2012; 12 years ago (2012)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., U.S.
Political DirectorMajid Sadeghpour
Websitewww.oiac.org

The Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) is an organization in the United States.

The OIAC is allied with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, or the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), which advocates the overthrow of the government of Iran.

History

OIAC is an Iranian-American organization dedicated to the promotion of a free and democratic Iran where human rights are celebrated, where different religious traditions are honored, and where every Iranian citizen feels safe and able to pursue their individual dreams and aspirations. The Organization of Iranian-American Communities-US was originally established in 1997. In 2012, Iranian-American interest groups from 40 states joined forces to collaborate and work toward a vision of bringing peaceful, democratic change to Iran. OIAC is now the largest organization of Iranian-Americans in the US and serves as a powerful Iranian-American advocacy group. OIAC recognizes that a peaceful, free Iran requires an alternate government rather than the religious fascism which now engulfs Iran today. OIAC works toward that goal by supporting the efforts of Iranians in Iran to reform their government and by showcasing Persian-American culture here in the United States. Majid Sadeghpour is currently the Political Director of the organization.

OIAC does not support a foreign war, nor does it support an appeasement policy towards Iran. More specifically, OIAC supports the 10-point plans by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi for a democratic Iran that aligns with security for America and peace in the Middle East and beyond. OIAC works in collaboration with all Iranian-Americans and concerned citizens across the country to achieve its mission and vision. OIAC holds yearly protests outside the United Nations building against Iranian Presidents and at times outside the White House "in solidarity with protesters in Iran". According to Joanne Stocker, "the Organization of Iranian American Communities have played a crucial role in securing broad, bipartisan support in the United States for the opposition group by successfully portraying the group as a democratic, human rights-supporting alternative to the current regime." OIAC and its events have been targeted by Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies.

Leadership

OIAC is led by political director Majid Sadeghpour. OIAC has a 3 members on the board of directors, 8 members on the board of advisors., and 7 members in the governing body.

See also

References

  1. Lipin, Michael (17 March 2018). "US Senators Pledge Help to Iranian Group Seeking End to Iran's Islamist Rule". VOA. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  2. Gharib, Ali; Clifton, Eli (26 February 2015). "Long March of the Yellow Jackets: How a One-Time Terrorist Group Prevailed on Capitol Hill". The Intercept. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. Ackerman, Spencer (19 September 2018). "Giuliani to Speak Beside Leader of Accused Iranian 'Cult'". Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. "Iran is at the heart of radical Islam". thehill.com. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. "Maryam Rajavi | President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)". Maryam Rajavi. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  6. Protesters Rally Against Iranian President at United Nations Archived 2023-03-10 at the Wayback Machine by REBECCA GIBIAN, Associated Press; 20 September 2017
  7. Demonstrators gather at White House to support Iranian ‘liberty, democracy’ Archived 2023-03-10 at the Wayback Machine; By Dick Uliano, WTOP-FM, 6 January 2018
  8. Laipson, Ellen (January 9, 2018). "The Foreign Policy Aftermath of the Iran Protests, in Tehran and Washington". Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  9. "The White House Once Labeled Them Terrorists. Now They're Being Called Iran's Next Government". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  10. "U.S. court detains Calif. man charged with serving as agent of Iran, surveilling Americans". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  11. Lipin, Michael. "US Judge Denies Bond to Iranian Man Accused of Spying for Tehran". VOA. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  12. OIAC (22 October 2015). "Board of Directors | OIAC US". OIAC. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  13. OIAC (17 June 2017). "Board of Advisors | OIAC US". OIAC. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  14. OIAC (7 August 2017). "Governing Body | OIAC US". OIAC. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-05-23.

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