Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I do think that the IRGC has terrorized the Iranian people and the region. I think what's most important is that when we look at our foreign policy with Iran, things like the JCPOA should never overshadow the human rights inside Iran. When I say that, we would be wise to remembe

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think it's really important that we don't have double standards in our foreign policy. When we're calling for sanctioning Putin, who is terrorizing Ukraine, why would we then have diplomatic ties with Iranian authorities who are terrorizing their own people? I think we can't s

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much. I wish I could answer that question, but the truth of the matter is that the government, Iranian authorities, prioritize revolutionary ideology before the well-being of the people. That is what the Iranian people are facing. There is no real interest in prot

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Nasrin Sotoudeh is an extraordinary human rights lawyer who has unjustly received 38 years simply because she has protected and defended her clients. She tried to use the law as much as she can. The penal code isn't very friendly towards women in Iran. She's used to going with

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, I do think that Ebrahim Raisi.... The election last year, which had the lowest turnout in the past 43 years, is very telling. People are completely disgruntled. As the logic goes, there's nothing wrong with a democracy that can't be fixed with what is right with a democr

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much. I'd just like to say how I am in awe of Ms. Ressa and Mr. Leung. Thank you so much for all you do. Narges Mohammadi is equally brave putting her own life at risk inside Iran as a long-time human rights defender. I recently spoke to her. She is bravely defyi

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Mr. Chair and members of the committee, thanks for inviting me to speak. Given that the Islamic Republic is ranked among the worst globally with respect to various human rights indices, the utter absence of a free media, the looming JCPOA agreement and the tragedies surrounding