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|leader_title = Political Director |leader_title = Political Director
|leader_name = Majid Sadeghpour |leader_name = Majid Sadeghpour
| parent_organization = ]

|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|url-status=|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|last=Gharib|first=Ali|last2=Clifton|first2=Eli|date=26 February 2015|website=The Intercept|access-date=17 December 2018}}</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}}</ref> The OIAC has been described as a front group for the MEK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/wheres-rudy-getting-the-money|title=Where’s Rudy Getting the Money?|last=Marshall|first=John|date=5 May 2018|website=Talking Points Memo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217192102/https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/wheres-rudy-getting-the-money|archive-date=17 December 2018|url-status=|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lobelog.com/tom-cotton-allies-himself-with-the-mek/comment-page-2/|title=Tom Cotton Allies Himself with the MEK|last=Clifton|first=Eli|date=6 May 2015|website=LobeLog|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref>
OIAC is a ] Iranian-American organization dedicated to the <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.californiasdi.org/california-convention/|title=California Convention – California SDI|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref> OIAC represents a network of who value traditions and believe the United States <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/ex-sen-lieberman-hopeful-about-change-when-it-comes-iran|title=Ex-Sen. Lieberman: We’re Moving to a New Administration, ‘Not Protective or Defensive of the Iran Nuclear Agreement But Ready to Challenge It’|date=2016-12-09|website=CNSNews.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref> can play a key role in supporting the democratic aspirations of Iranian Americans & the people of Iran.<ref>{{Citation|title=Organization of Iranian American Communities|date=2020-04-11|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Organization_of_Iranian_American_Communities&oldid=950381453|work=Misplaced Pages|language=en|access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref> OIAC serves as a platform for Iranian Americans to collaborate on <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oiac.org/iran-1988-massacre-ongoing-human-rights-violations-rally-vigil-and-photo-exhibition/|title=Iran: 1988 Massacre, Ongoing Human Rights Violations” rally, vigil, and photo exhibition|date=2019-08-31|website=OIAC|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref>, and serves as a resource for <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oiac.org/oiac-us-network/|title=OIAC-US Network|website=OIAC|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref> in the United States.
==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. 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 =http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/229948-iran-is-at-the-heart-of-radical-islam | accessdate =1 February 2016}}</ref> OIAC hosts congressional events<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/foreign-policy/325425-as-persian-new-year-passes-iranian-resistance-has-reason|title=As Persian New Year passes, Iranian resistance sees reasons for hope|last=Weatherhead|first=Timothy|date=2017-03-23|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>, briefing, and other events <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oiac.org/bi-partisan-members-of-congress-sup-port-a-free-iran-at-capitol-hill-event-marking-nowruz-the-iranian-new-year/|title=Bi-Partisan Members of Congress support a free Iran at Capitol Hill event marking Nowruz, the Iranian New Year|date=2018-03-13|website=OIAC|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>in support of democracy and human rights.<ref> by REBECCA GIBIAN, ]; 20 September 2017</ref> The OIAC was founded in 2012 with its present headquarters located in ], ] but it has been working as Iranian American Communities-US since 1997. 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 =http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/229948-iran-is-at-the-heart-of-radical-islam | accessdate =1 February 2016}}</ref>

OIAC and its events have been targeted<ref>{{Cite web|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|title=U.S. court detains Calif. man charged with serving as agent of Iran, surveilling Americans|website=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-11-28}}</ref> by Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/Iranian-spy/4539059.html|title=US Judge Denies Bond to Iranian Man Accused of Spying for Tehran|last=Lipin|first=Michael|work=VOA|access-date=2018-11-28|language=en}}</ref> OIAC holds yearly protests outside the ] building against Iranian Presidents<ref> by REBECCA GIBIAN, ]; 20 September 2017</ref> and at times outside the ] "in solidarity with ]".<ref>; By Dick Uliano, ], 6 January 2018</ref><ref></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></ref>

== Lobbying activities ==
{{Data bars
| title = Annual lobbying expenses of MEK<br>(including those of OIAC)
| style = 1
| align = right
| scale = 0.1
| columns = 5 | 2014| 2015| 2016| 2017| 2018
| #85bb65|Spending in thousand dollars| 822| 687| 570| 503| 511
| source = Al-Monitor Lobbying Tracker<ref>{{citation|editor-first=Julian|editor-last=Pecquet|url=https://lobbying.al-monitor.com/pulse/iran|title=Annual Overview 2019: Iran opposition buoyed by Trump’s 'maximum pressure' campaign|work=Al-Monitor Lobbying Tracker|date=11 September 2019|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://lobbying.al-monitor.com/pulse/files/live/sites/lobbying-alm/files/images/specials/lobbying/2019/Graphics/IranLobbying2019.png|archive-date=30 March 2020}}</ref>
}}
'']'' describes OIAC as an "opaque network" which is used by the MEK to ], quoting a former staffer "iven how small they are and how marginal they actually are, the amount of influence they wield is actually kind of amazing."<ref>{{citation|first1=Ali|last1=Gharib|first2=Eli|last2=Clifton|url=https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/|title=How a One-Time Terrorist Group Prevailed on Capitol Hill|work=The Intercept|date=26 February 2015|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517135007/https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/|archive-date=17 May 2018}}</ref> The organization had refused to comment on its lobbying activities.<ref>{{citation|first=Ali|last=Harb|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/Iranian-MEK-US-terror-list-halls-congress-PMOI-Iran|title=How Iranian MEK went from US terror list to halls of Congress|work=Middle East Eye|date=17 July 2019|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408235907/https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/Iranian-MEK-US-terror-list-halls-congress-PMOI-Iran|archive-date=8 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pecquet">{{citation|first=Julian|last=Pecquet|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2016/08/iran-lobbies-compete-for-influence.html|title=Iranians in America battle over US rapprochement with Tehran|work=Al-Monitor|date=16 August 2016|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206062712/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2016/08/iran-lobbies-compete-for-influence.html|archive-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>
=== Known engagements ===
In 2013, the OIAC hired three former lawmakers at two different lobby firms, with an aim to relocate MEK members from ].<ref name="Pecquet"/> In the same year, the organization paid nearly one-third of the costs for the trip of then-] ] to ], which totaled $31,363.<ref name="NBC">{{citation|first1=Wendy|last1=Fry|first2=Monica|last2=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> Filner –who attended the annual meetings of the MEK in 2007 and 2011 sponsored by an Iranian-born Colorado real estate broker named 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|first=Dean|last=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"/>

According to data aggregator Legistorm, from 2014 to 2016 the OIAC spent almost $100,000 to send six congresspeople and five staffers from both parties to the rally in Paris.<ref name="Pecquet"/>

'']'' reported that aligned with the NCRI efforts to press the Congress to recognize ], the OIAC paid $90,000 to ] law firm from January to December 2016.<ref>{{citation|first=Jack|last=Detsch|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/lobbying-2017/iran|title=Trump rhetoric divides Iranian-Americans|work=Al-Monitor|date=12 December 2017|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324034552/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/lobbying-2017/iran|archive-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> '']'' calculated the total amount paid by the OIAC to the firm, between 2013 and 2016, about $500,000.<ref>{{citation|url=https://projects.propublica.org/represent/lobbying/r/300940563|title=Lobbying by Organization of Iranian American Communities|work=ProPublica|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408233348/https://projects.propublica.org/represent/lobbying/r/300940563|archive-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>

==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
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Revision as of 17:34, 21 April 2020

Organization of Iranian American Communities
File:Organization of Iranian American Communities logo.jpg
AbbreviationOIAC
Formation2012; 12 years ago (2012)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., U.S.
Political DirectorMajid Sadeghpour
Parent organizationPeople's Mujahedin of Iran
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. The OIAC has been described as a front group for the MEK.

History

The OIAC was founded in 2012 with its present headquarters located in Washington, D.C., United States but it has been working as Iranian American Communities-US since 1997. Majid Sadeghpour is currently the Political Director of the organization.

OIAC and its events have been targeted by Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies. 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."

Lobbying activities

Annual lobbying expenses of MEK
(including those of OIAC)
Spending in thousand dollars
822
687
570
503
511
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Total: 3093

Source: Al-Monitor Lobbying Tracker

The Intercept describes OIAC as an "opaque network" which is used by the MEK to lobby the United States Congress, quoting a former staffer "iven how small they are and how marginal they actually are, the amount of influence they wield is actually kind of amazing." The organization had refused to comment on its lobbying activities.

Known engagements

In 2013, the OIAC hired three former lawmakers at two different lobby firms, with an aim to relocate MEK members from Camp Liberty. In the same year, the organization paid nearly one-third of the costs for the trip of then-Mayor of San Diego Bob Filner to Paris, France, which totaled $31,363. Filner –who attended the annual meetings of the MEK in 2007 and 2011 sponsored by an Iranian-born Colorado real estate broker named Mehdi Ghaemi– appeared the event again in his trip. After the OIAC payment was placed under investigation for violation of state law by the City Council, Filner pledged to reimburse the costs.

According to data aggregator Legistorm, from 2014 to 2016 the OIAC spent almost $100,000 to send six congresspeople and five staffers from both parties to the rally in Paris.

Al-Monitor reported that aligned with the NCRI efforts to press the Congress to recognize 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners, the OIAC paid $90,000 to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld law firm from January to December 2016. ProPublica calculated the total amount paid by the OIAC to the firm, between 2013 and 2016, about $500,000.

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. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. Ackerman, Spencer (19 September 2018). "Giuliani to Speak Beside Leader of Accused Iranian 'Cult'". Daily Beast. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. Marshall, John (5 May 2018). "Where's Rudy Getting the Money?". Talking Points Memo. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. Clifton, Eli (6 May 2015). "Tom Cotton Allies Himself with the MEK". LobeLog. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  6. "Iran is at the heart of radical Islam". thehill.com. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. "U.S. court detains Calif. man charged with serving as agent of Iran, surveilling Americans". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  8. Lipin, Michael. "US Judge Denies Bond to Iranian Man Accused of Spying for Tehran". VOA. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  9. Protesters Rally Against Iranian President at United Nations by REBECCA GIBIAN, Associated Press; 20 September 2017
  10. Demonstrators gather at White House to support Iranian ‘liberty, democracy’; By Dick Uliano, WTOP-FM, 6 January 2018
  11. The Organization of Iranian American Communities holds a demonstration across from the White House in solidarity with protesters in Iran, Washington, Jan. 6, 2018
  12. Haaretz
  13. Pecquet, Julian, ed. (11 September 2019), "Annual Overview 2019: Iran opposition buoyed by Trump's 'maximum pressure' campaign", Al-Monitor Lobbying Tracker, archived from the original on 30 March 2020, retrieved 30 March 2020
  14. Gharib, Ali; Clifton, Eli (26 February 2015), "How a One-Time Terrorist Group Prevailed on Capitol Hill", The Intercept, archived from the original on 17 May 2018, retrieved 30 March 2020
  15. Harb, Ali (17 July 2019), "How Iranian MEK went from US terror list to halls of Congress", Middle East Eye, archived from the original on 8 April 2020, retrieved 30 March 2020
  16. ^ Pecquet, Julian (16 August 2016), "Iranians in America battle over US rapprochement with Tehran", Al-Monitor, archived from the original on 6 December 2016, retrieved 30 March 2020
  17. ^ Fry, Wendy; Garske, Monica (31 July 2013), "Mayor Under Fire: Filner Says He'll Pay for Paris Trip", NBC San Diego, retrieved 1 February 2016
  18. Calbreath, Dean (28 June 2013), "Filner Visits Iranian Resistance In Paris", The Daily Transcript, KPBS Public Broadcasting, retrieved 30 March 2018
  19. Detsch, Jack (12 December 2017), "Trump rhetoric divides Iranian-Americans", Al-Monitor, archived from the original on 24 March 2018, retrieved 30 March 2020
  20. "Lobbying by Organization of Iranian American Communities", ProPublica, archived from the original on 8 April 2020, retrieved 30 March 2020

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