U.S. Department of State Headquarters Harry S. Truman Building Washington, D.C. THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Secretary, it’s great to be here with you. And I’ve been looking forward a long time to be able to call you “Mr. Secretary.” Good afternoon, everyone. It’s an honor to be back at the State Department under the eyes of ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 6 February, 2021 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, News, Transcripts | Tags: Biden, Iran, State Department
On Wednesday, November 25, 2020, the United States sanctioned four entities located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia for supporting Iran’s missile program, under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). We imposed sanctions against Chengdu Best New Materials Co., Ltd. and Zibo Elim Trade Co., Ltd. in the PRC ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 28 November, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: China, INKSNA, Iran, Sanctions
Instead of using its natural resource wealth to improve living conditions for the Iranian people, the Iranian regime prefers to pawn its oil to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and support its terror proxies as they sow chaos and destruction around the Middle East. We will not let that happen. Today, pursuant ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 27 October, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Iran, IRGC, IRGC-QF, Oil, Sanctions
For many years, the Iranian regime and its primary tool of regional destabilization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), have exploited Iraq to advance their own interests at the expense of the Iraqi people. The IRGC-QF’s activities in Iraq continue to undermine Iraqi security, sovereignty, and prosperity. Today, the United States is taking another ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 23 October, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Iran, Iraq, IRGC, Official, Sanctioned, United States
On September 19, virtually all UN sanctions on Iran returned, including re-imposition of the UN arms embargo. Accordingly, the export of certain conventional arms to Iran is a violation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 and the procurement of any arms or related materiel from Iran is a violation of UNSCR 1747. The United ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 18 October, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Arms, Iran, Sanctions, UN, UNSCR
The Iranian regime must respect the human rights of the Iranian people. Despite its obligations and commitments, the regime continues to subvert its justice system to fuel fear and repression. The United States is committed to holding accountable those who are denying freedom and justice to the people of Iran, and today we are taking ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 25 September, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Courts, Iran, Judge, Sanctions
Today, I am taking new actions to restrict Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, and conventional weapons pursuits. My Administration will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, nor will we allow Iran to endanger the rest of the world with a fresh supply of ballistic missiles and conventional arms. To ensure this cannot happen, I ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 21 September, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, President of the United States, Statements | Tags: Iran, Missile, New, Nuclear, President Trump, Sanctions, Weapons
The Trump Administration has made clear that the United States will do whatever it takes to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and anti-Semitism, from spreading death and mayhem throughout the Middle East and the world. Rather than wait for the day that Iran threatens the world with ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 21 September, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: 2231, Iran, New, Sanction, US
The Trump Administration has always understood that the greatest threat to peace in the Middle East comes from Islamic Republic of Iran, whose violent efforts to spread revolution have killed thousands and upended the lives of millions of innocent people. History shows appeasement only emboldens such regimes. Thus today, the United States welcomes the return ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 19 September, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: 2231, Iran, JCPOA, Pompeo, Sanction, UN, UNSCR, US
“No policy,” said Charles de Gaulle, “is worth anything outside of reality. That maxim guides the United States’ policy regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. We recognize the regime for what it is: the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and the primary source of instability in the Middle East. I believe our friends in ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 14 September, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: France, Iran, Kerry, Le Figaro, Macron, Pompeo, Regime, Sanctions
Good afternoon, everyone. Just a few minutes ago, I delivered letters to both the UN Secretary-General Guterres and to the president of the Security Council. I notified them that the United States is initiating the restoration of virtually all UN sanctions on Iran lifted under UN Security Council Resolution 2231. This process will lead to ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 21 August, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Iran, Pompeo, Sanctions, UN, UNSCR
Overview Since coming to power in 1979, the Iranian regime has been implicated in assassinations, terrorist plots, and terrorist attacks in more than 40 countries. Senior Iranian officials have declared that Iran follows and constantly surveils Iranian dissidents in other countries to “crack down on them” and “strike decisive blows.” Iran’s global campaign of terror ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 29 May, 2020 | Topics: Fact Sheets, Near East & North Africa | Tags: Alisa Michelle Flatow, Argentina-Israelite Mutual Aid Association (AMIA), Asadollah Asadi, Assasination, BBC, Fallahian, Hizballah, INTERPOL, Iran, Mohsen Rabbani, Terror
Today, I am announcing the end of the sanctions waiver covering all remaining JCPOA-originating nuclear projects in Iran – the Arak reactor conversion, the provision of enriched uranium for the Tehran Research Reactor, and the export of Iran’s spent and scrap research reactor fuel. The sanctions waiver covering these activities will end following a final, ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 28 May, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Arak, Bushehr, designation, Iran, Israel, JCPOA, Sanctions, United States, waiver
For years, Iran has claimed its space program is purely peaceful and civilian. The Trump Administration has never believed this fiction. This week’s launch of a military satellite by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, makes clear what we have said all along: Iran’s space program is neither peaceful nor entirely civilian. In February 2020, the head ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 27 April, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, embargo, EU, ICBM, Iran, IRGC, Program, Space, UN
Chinese authorities routinely prohibit Muslims from practicing their faith — from forbidding fasting during the holy month of Ramadan to punishing halal practices. Regulations in Xinjiang in northwest China specifically forbid men from growing “abnormal beards” and women from wearing veils that cover their faces. Prayer mats and copies of the Quran are regularly confiscated ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 13 April, 2020 | Topics: East Asia & Pacific, Human Rights, Near East & North Africa | Tags: China, Iran, Muslims, Uighur, United States, Xinjiang
· Iran’s slick foreign influence campaign to obtain sanctions relief is not intended for the relief or health of the Iranian people but to raise funds for its terror operations. · Since 2012, the regime has spent over $16 billion to fund its terror proxies abroad while Iranian healthcare services have remained woefully underfunded. This ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 7 April, 2020 | Topics: Fact Sheets, Policy | Tags: Fact sheet, Humanitarian Assistance, Iran, IRGC, National Development Fund, President Trump, Qods Force, United States
Iran’s leaders have repeatedly refused outside offers to help everyday Iranians who are suffering from COVID-19, worsening the regime’s failed response to the outbreak. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the aid group also called Doctors Without Borders, said March 24 that Iran’s regime rejected previously agreed upon plans for a 50-bed treatment unit for COVID-19 patients ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 3 April, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa | Tags: Channel, China, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Iran, Mahan Air, MSF, United States
The U.S. government has rapidly mobilized unprecedented resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, both at home and abroad. The United States has made available nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian funding. Along with the U.S. private sector, the American people continue to lead in responding to this pandemic. The $274 million will ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 31 March, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Official Reports, Public Affairs, Science & Tech, U.S. & Iran, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Assitance, Coronavirus, COVID-19, humanitarian aid, Humanitarian Assistance, Iran, President Trump, US
Iran needs to be essentially blacklisted from participating in the international financial system after the regime’s refusal to implement restrictions against terrorist financing, an international watchdog group said February 21. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had given Iran’s regime a February deadline to enact restrictions against money laundering and terrorist financing. But the ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 26 March, 2020 | Topics: Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Near East & North Africa, Press Releases, U.S. & Iran | Tags: Black List, FATF, Iran, IRGC, Pompeo, Rouhani, Sanctions, United States
This past week, the IAEA issued two reports that the Islamic Republic of Iran is hiding nuclear material – its nuclear material and nuclear activities. Iran is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran’s safeguard agreements under that treaty require it to declare nuclear material to the IAEA and provide the IAEA inspectors with full ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 5 March, 2020 | Topics: East Asia & Pacific, Statements | Tags: Iran, Nuclear, Pompeo, Sanctions, UNSC, US
The Iranian regime has been
jamming radio and TV signals across Iran since 2003. The scale to which the regime conducts jamming is so intense that even the Health Ministry and parliament officials openly confessed about its significant health risks. “Side effects of satellite jamming signals could lead to miscarriage and birth defects” said the Health ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 25 February, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Environment, Health Issues, Human Rights, Near East & North Africa | Tags: Iran, ITU, Jamming, Uplink
Today, the United States designated five members of Iran’s Guardian Council and its Elections Supervision Committee who have played a role in denying Iranians their right to free and fair elections. This includes Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of the Guardian Council, who has in the past praised the killing of political dissidents and previously called ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 21 February, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Statements | Tags: Elections, Guardian Council, Iran, Jananti, Majles, Michael R. Pompeo, United States
The Iranian regime has yet again taken measures to damage Iran’s economy further. Iran has only a few days left to comply with the commitments it made to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Otherwise, FATF’s countermeasures could be re-imposed on Iran. Based in Paris, France, FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 19 February, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa | Tags: 41 Years of Failure, FATF, Iran
Following a tough and lengthy struggle, American women gained the right to vote in 1920, when Congress ratified the 19th amendment to the US Constitution. Iranian women did not obtain this right easily, either. They earned voting rights in 1963, on the heels of 56 years of protest and persistence. Three women in particular, were ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 19 February, 2020 | Topics: Human Rights | Tags: Elections, Iran, Majles, United States, Women's rights
The United States calls on Iran to fulfill its commitments to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and adhere to the FATF’s anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism standards that protect the international financial system from illicit finance. Iran should be treated like any other nation. Nearly every country in the world has ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 12 February, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Press Releases, Statements | Tags: FATF, Iran
The Iranian regime uses satellite launches to develop its ballistic missile capabilities. The technologies used to launch satellites into orbit are virtually identical and interchangeable with those used in longer range systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles. Each launch, whether failed or not, further allows Iran to gain experience using such technologies that could benefit its ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 11 February, 2020 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, Press Releases, Statements, U.S. & Iran | Tags: Ballistic Missile Program, Failed Space Program, Iran
The U.S. is ensuring that cancer drugs and other lifesaving medicines reach Iranian patients, part of a broader push to support everyday Iranians and bypass the Iranian regime’s systemic corruption and financial mismanagement. The channel, developed in cooperation with the Swiss government, has already delivered at least 180,000 packages of medicine to Iran. “Iranian cancer ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 6 February, 2020 | Topics: Featured Event, Human Rights, Policy | Tags: Faces of Iran, Human Rights, Iran, Sanctions
Iranian authorities arrested and imprisoned at least 1.7 million of their own people in the Tehran area over the past four decades, and many were executed, a 2019 report says. Among them: more than 5,700 members of the Baha’i religious minority and at least 860 journalists and citizen-journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. The ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 5 February, 2020 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, History, Human Rights, Near East & North Africa, News, Reports, Statements, U.S. & Iran | Tags: Faces of Iran, Iran
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary January 10, 2018 Statement by the Press Secretary on Iran Protests The Trump Administration is deeply concerned by reports that the Iranian regime has imprisoned thousands of Iranian citizens in the past week for engaging in peaceful protests. Further reports that the regime has tortured or killed ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 10 January, 2018 | Topics: Human Rights, Policy, Statements | Tags: Iran, Jail, Protests, Statement, Torture
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary October 13, 2017 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ON IRAN STRATEGY THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. My fellow Americans: As President of the United States, my highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people. History has shown that the longer we ignore ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 13 October, 2017 | Topics: Policy, President of the United States, Speeches | Tags: Donald J. Trump, Iran, JCPOA, Nuclear, Strategy
The penal code specifies the death sentence for proselytizing and attempts by non-Muslims to convert Muslims, as well as for moharebeh (“enmity against God”) and sabb al-nabi(“insulting the prophet”). The law prohibits Muslim citizens from changing or renouncing their religious beliefs. … “Within the limits of the law,” the constitution states Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians (excluding converts from ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 16 August, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, Policy | Tags: Iran, Religious, Religious freedom, Report
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary July 21, 2017 Statement on American Citizens Unjustly Detained in Iran President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are redoubling efforts to bring home all Americans unjustly detained abroad. The United States condemns hostage takers and nations that continue to take hostages and detain our citizens without ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 22 July, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, Policy, Statements | Tags: American Citizens, Baquer Namazi, Human Rights, Iran, Robert Levinson, Siamak Namazi
IRAN: TIER 3 The Government of Iran does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Iran remained on Tier 3. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including operating some centers where trafficking victims ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 28 June, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, Policy, Reports | Tags: Human Rights, Human Trafficking, Iran, Remove term: Trafficking in Person Report Trafficking in Person Report 2017, Trafficking in Person Report
May 17, 2017 U.S. State Department Issues Report on Human Rights Sanctions on Iran Highlights Iran’s Continuing Human Rights Abuses The State Department released today its semi-annual report to Congress detailing sanctions imposed on persons involved in human rights abuses in Iran. The report cites recent sanctions against the Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Soleimani, ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 17 May, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, Policy, Press Releases, Statements | Tags: Human Rights, Iran, Sanctions
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesperson MEDIA NOTE March 24, 2017 Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act Sanctions On March 21, the United States imposed sanctions on 30 foreign entities and individuals in 10 countries pursuant to the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). These sanctions apply to the specific ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 24 March, 2017 | Topics: Policy, Statements | Tags: Iran, Missile, Nonproliferation, Nuclear, Sanctions
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary February 3, 2017 Statement by National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn on Iran Today, the United States sanctioned twenty-five individuals and entities that provide support to Iran’s ballistic missile program and to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the world’s ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 4 February, 2017 | Topics: Policy, Statements | Tags: Flynn, Iran, National Security, Sanctions
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STATEMENT BY MARK TONER, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON October 18, 2016 The Sentencing of Siamak and Baquer Namazi We are deeply concerned about reports that U.S. citizens Siamak Namazi and Baquer Namazi have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Siamak Namazi has been unjustly detained in Iran for over a year. ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Iran 40 | 18 October, 2016 | Topics: Human Rights, Statements | Tags: Baquer Namazi, Iran, Jail, Namazi, Sentence, Siamak Namazi
The United States welcomes the appointment of Asma Jahangir of Pakistan as the new Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, in the UN Human Rights Council’s 33rd Session replacing Dr. Ahmed Shaheed of the Maldives, who will now take on the mandate of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 5 October, 2016 | Topics: Fact Sheets, Human Rights | Tags: Human Rights, Iran, Special Rapporteur, UN
Yes, we have a brand new website! Have a look around! The new-look website has seven sections representing broad topics that may be of interest to you. The sections are broken down further into sub-categories to assist you in finding specific information. The Seven Sections are:
Visas – For all your Visa needs and questions.
U.S. Citizen Services – ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 27 September, 2016 | Topics: U.S. & Iran | Tags: Blog, Citizen, Educatio, Embassy, Iran, Relations, U.S., Virtual Embassy, Visa
By Louise Fenner | Staff Writer Washington — Iran can be proud of the role it played in the creation of the first international agreement to preserve the world’s wetlands, says an American wildlife conservationist whose research in Iran in the late 1960s helped draw attention to the importance of Iran’s wetlands habitat. “There was ...
Read More» By Virtual Embassy Tehran | 7 September, 2016 | Topics: Transcripts, U.S. & Iran | Tags: Iran, Ramsar Convention, Wetland
