The issue of Iran’s nuclear program could hardly be more important. Iranian development of a nuclear weapon, while not the end of the world as some have suggested, would adversely effect US, regional, and global security, and would add to the risk that nations or non-state actors might one day use nuclear weapons. This outcome can be avoided, in part, by a smart US nonproliferation strategy. On the other hand, ill conceived or poorly executed US actions my have the counter-productive effect of making an Iranian bomb even more likely. The importance of getting this right and the complexity of the challenge are apparent but all the more obvious given recent events in Israel and Lebanon...Read full...

About Dr. Jim Walsh
http://web.mit.edu/SSP/people/walsh/facul ty_walsh.html

Dr. Amirahmadi’s Interview with RoozOnline on “War in Lebanon" (in Persian):
http://r0ozonline.com/08interview/016925.shtml

The Mandaeans are the last surviving practitioners of an ancient monotheistic religion. At one point in their history they were much more numerous and were found throughout the Middle East, but today they have been reduced to a very small remnant in the south of Iraq and the adjacent part of Iran. The Iranian community of Mandaeans, located primarily in Khuzistan, has a long history in the region; according to their traditions, they fled persecution in Palestine twenty centuries ago and were invited by one of the Parthian emperors to settle in his lands. This was the beginning of a special relationship between the Mandaeans and the Iranian people that has endured to this very day, after nearly two millennia...Read full...

About Charles Häberl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H%C3% A4berl

From: Shirin Ebadi
Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 1:54 PM

There is a very important matter I would like to discuss with you. I conduct my human rights activities through the Defender of Human Rights Center (DHRC). I am the president of this center and we have three important responsibilities:

a. We report the violations of human rights that take place in Iran.

b. We defend political prisoners pro bono -- about 70% of the political prisoners in Iran are clients of our center and we do not charge them for our services.

c. We support the families of these prisoners both financially -- if they require financial aid -- and spiritually.

This center is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and has been registered there. It has also been awarded a human rights prize by the Human Rights National Commission in France. This center is very well known and credible in Iran. Two days ago the government of Iran announced that this center is illegal and made clear their intentions to arrest us if we continue our activities. Of course, I and the other members of the center do not intend to shut down it down and we shall continue our activities. However, there is a high possibility that that they will arrest us. The government's action in this regard is illegal.

Therefore, I kindly request that you broadcast this message by all means and gather spiritual support for our center. This center has been established and working for more than four years now. I believe this decision of the government has been triggered by my memoir being published. In any case, I am happy that my memoir has been published, for the truth must be told.

Many thanks,

Shirin Ebadi

Source: Gulf2000

Given the high level of tensions between the United States and Iran, I ask that together we look at the political realities that face Iran today, and for the near future, and ask what possible scenarios can play out and how they can be best managed to preserve the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, which are prerequisites for the advancement of any domestic agenda. I believe that it is of paramount importance that while recognizing our differences we come together and develop cohesive strategies...Read full...

Can Iran Become a Democracy in the Absence of Relations with the US?

Speaker: Professor Hooshang Amirahmadi, Rutgers University; www.amirahmadi.com

Location: Falls Church High School- Room 107 – 109, Entrance # 10

Address:7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042

Date: Monday, August 14, 2006

Time: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Direction: 495 South, Exit 50 - Arlington Blvd. East (Road 50), right at first light onto Jaguar Trail. The school is on the right, about 2 blocks. Entrance # 10 is next to the main entrance of the school.

Organizer: Iranian Cultural Association (ICA) of Washington Metropolitan Area

The lecture is in Farsi.

For more information click here.

AIC has conducted many conferences in the past years. You may have been a participant in one of these events. To view your pictures, please click the link below.

http://www.american- iranian.org/home.php?mains=10&subs=162

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