American Iranian Council
Encyclopedia
The American-Iranian Council (AIC) was formed in 1997 as a bi-partisan think tank
focused upon promoting better relations between the United States
and Iran
. Former United States Secretary of State
Cyrus Vance
was the original honorary Chair of the organization. The AIC is an academic research and education organization that is focused upon improving the dialogue between two countries that often fail to take into account misperceptions, misunderstandings, and mischaracterizations. The AIC seeks to help policy makers as well as concerned citizens become better aware of the interests in common to both countries.
. The AIC is generally focused upon working at the national and international levels of public policy, it is also increasingly involved in helping Iranian-American
citizens in the United States to have their voices and concerns articulated and heard.
The AIC is guided by its core values – (i.) truth, (ii.) understanding, (iii.) dialogue and (iv.) participation – for an organization to promote and protect those values, the AIC helps turn these into more specific principles. The organization believes in intellectual and practical rigor, a free and open and nonpartisan inquiry, full accountability and transparency, fair and balanced treatment of issues, the enhancement of a public-service ethic, broad participation of those who wish to be involved, and the promotion of common ground and mutual interests.
and Congressman Dennis Kucinich
have been involved in helping to move the U.S. and Iran away from armed conflict. The past Iranian Ambassador to the U.N.
, Javad Zarif, and the present Ambassador, Mohammad Khazaee
, have both worked with the AIC.
In 2007, the AIC helped to arrange a meeting between President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and U.S. academics, business leaders and members of the media. The difficulties and problems in the ongoing relationship between the two countries was the primary topic of the discussion.
In 2003, the AIC helped Iran initiate an offer to the United States, known as the "Grand Bargain". Before invading Iraq
, the Bush administration rebuffed a series of overtures from Iran's reformist government -- among them offers to help the United States stabilize Iraq after the invasion -- which culminated in a secret proposal for a grand bargain resolving all outstanding issues between the United States and Iran, including Iran's alleged support for terrorism and the development of its nuclear program. The United States, which had branded Iran part of the "axis of evil
," decided on a confrontational approach. (See PBS Frontline Documentary showing on October 23, 2007.)
The AIC has announced that it is planning a meeting with Mohammad Khazaee
, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations.
Ali Shakeri
, founding member of the University of California-Irvine Center for Peacebuilding in Los Angeles
, called the AIC on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 to thank the AIC and its members for diplomatic actions taken to gain his release from prison in Iran. Mr. Shakeri has worked with and supported the activities of AIC for many years. Shakeri had been unlawfully detained in Iran's notorious Evin Prison
on charges of security violations since May 2007.
, and its Board of Directors is composed of, Thomas Pickering
, former Senator J Bennet Johnson, former Vice-Chairman of Chevron Richard Matzke, Dr. Fereidun Feksharaki President of FACTS, and Professor Hooshang Amirahmadi
of Rutgers University, Ambassador Sargent Shriver, R.K. Ramazani, Ambassador Robert H. Pelletreau, Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Judith Kipper, Roy Mottahedeh.
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
focused upon promoting better relations between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Former United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
was the original honorary Chair of the organization. The AIC is an academic research and education organization that is focused upon improving the dialogue between two countries that often fail to take into account misperceptions, misunderstandings, and mischaracterizations. The AIC seeks to help policy makers as well as concerned citizens become better aware of the interests in common to both countries.
Goals and mission
The AIC is designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, non-political, non-sectarian organization that is headquartered in Princeton, New JerseyPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. The AIC is generally focused upon working at the national and international levels of public policy, it is also increasingly involved in helping Iranian-American
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
citizens in the United States to have their voices and concerns articulated and heard.
The AIC is guided by its core values – (i.) truth, (ii.) understanding, (iii.) dialogue and (iv.) participation – for an organization to promote and protect those values, the AIC helps turn these into more specific principles. The organization believes in intellectual and practical rigor, a free and open and nonpartisan inquiry, full accountability and transparency, fair and balanced treatment of issues, the enhancement of a public-service ethic, broad participation of those who wish to be involved, and the promotion of common ground and mutual interests.
Achievements
The AIC was granted permission by the U.S. government to open an office in Iran. The AIC will be the only U.S. based peace and conflict resolution Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in Iran. The AIC has hosted members of both political parties in the United States at its meetings. Most recently, Senator Chuck HagelChuck Hagel
Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel is a former United States Senator from Nebraska. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002...
and Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Dennis Kucinich
Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
have been involved in helping to move the U.S. and Iran away from armed conflict. The past Iranian Ambassador to the U.N.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Javad Zarif, and the present Ambassador, Mohammad Khazaee
Mohammad Khazaee
Mohammad Khazaee , born 12 April 1953 in Kashmar, Iran) is the current Ambassador of Iran to the United Nations. He presented his credentials to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2007. He was elected as Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly on 14 September...
, have both worked with the AIC.
In 2007, the AIC helped to arrange a meeting between President
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and U.S. academics, business leaders and members of the media. The difficulties and problems in the ongoing relationship between the two countries was the primary topic of the discussion.
In 2003, the AIC helped Iran initiate an offer to the United States, known as the "Grand Bargain". Before invading Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, the Bush administration rebuffed a series of overtures from Iran's reformist government -- among them offers to help the United States stabilize Iraq after the invasion -- which culminated in a secret proposal for a grand bargain resolving all outstanding issues between the United States and Iran, including Iran's alleged support for terrorism and the development of its nuclear program. The United States, which had branded Iran part of the "axis of evil
Axis of evil
"Axis of evil" is a term initially used by the former United States President George W. Bush in his State of the Union Address on January 29, 2002 and often repeated throughout his presidency, describing governments that he accused of helping terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction...
," decided on a confrontational approach. (See PBS Frontline Documentary showing on October 23, 2007.)
The AIC has announced that it is planning a meeting with Mohammad Khazaee
Mohammad Khazaee
Mohammad Khazaee , born 12 April 1953 in Kashmar, Iran) is the current Ambassador of Iran to the United Nations. He presented his credentials to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2007. He was elected as Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly on 14 September...
, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations.
Ali Shakeri
Ali Shakeri
Ali Shakeri is an Iranian-American businessman and activist. He graduated from the University of Texas with a business administration degree. He serves on the Community Advisory Board of the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at the University of California, Irvine...
, founding member of the University of California-Irvine Center for Peacebuilding in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, called the AIC on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 to thank the AIC and its members for diplomatic actions taken to gain his release from prison in Iran. Mr. Shakeri has worked with and supported the activities of AIC for many years. Shakeri had been unlawfully detained in Iran's notorious Evin Prison
Evin Prison
Evin House of Detention is a prison in Iran, located in Evin, northwestern Tehran. It is noted for its political prisoners' wing, where prisoners have been held both before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
on charges of security violations since May 2007.
Leadership
The AIC has a prominent board which includes many of the top academics, diplomats, and business leaders. AIC's honorary board includes secretary Donna ShalalaDonna Shalala
Donna Edna Shalala served for eight years as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton and has been president of the University of Miami, a private university in Coral Gables, Florida, since 2001. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest...
, and its Board of Directors is composed of, Thomas Pickering
Thomas Pickering
Thomas Pickering may refer to:*Thomas Pickering , English religious leader*Thomas R. Pickering , American diplomat -- UN AmbassadorSee also*Timothy Pickering , American diplomat -- Secretary of State...
, former Senator J Bennet Johnson, former Vice-Chairman of Chevron Richard Matzke, Dr. Fereidun Feksharaki President of FACTS, and Professor Hooshang Amirahmadi
Hooshang Amirahmadi
Hooshang Amirahmadi is an Iranian academic and political analyst.Amirahmadi is the founder and president of American Iranian Council, holds a Ph.D. in planning and international development from Cornell University and is a professor of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy,...
of Rutgers University, Ambassador Sargent Shriver, R.K. Ramazani, Ambassador Robert H. Pelletreau, Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Judith Kipper, Roy Mottahedeh.