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Organization of Iranian American Communities

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Organization of Iranian American Communities
AbbreviationOIAC
Formation2012; 14 years ago (2012)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., U.S.
Political Director
Majid Sadeghpour
Websitewww.oiac.org

The Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) is an organization in the United States.

While the OIAC maintains a position of "nonpartisonship" in its mandate,[1] critics of the organisation have accused it of being allied with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, or the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), which advocates the overthrow of the government of Iran.[2][3][4]

History

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According to its Political Director, Majid Sadeghpour, OIAC was established in 1997 and expanded in 2012 through a collaboration of groups from 40 states. The organization advocates for a secular, democratic government in Iran and supports the separation of religion and state. Its stated mission includes the promotion of human rights and the defense of civil liberties for Iranian citizens.[5]

OIAC states that it supports the establishment of a secular, democratic republic in Iran and opposes both foreign military intervention and a policy of economic appeasement toward the current government.[6] The organization advocates for the "10-point plan" proposed by Maryam Rajavi, which includes calls for gender equality, the abolition of the death penalty, and a non-nuclear Iran.[6][7] OIAC holds annual demonstrations near the United Nations in New York[8][6] and has organized rallies at the White House to express "solidarity with protesters in Iran".[9] Independent reporting has described the organization as an all-volunteer advocacy group closely linked to the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).[6] According to investigative editor Joanne Stocker, OIAC has played a significant role in securing bipartisan support in the United States for the Iranian opposition by presenting the movement as a democratic, human rights-focused alternative to the current government in Tehran.[6]

In 2018, U.S. federal prosecutors alleged that an agent of the Iranian government conducted surveillance on an OIAC convention in Washington, D.C., as part of a plot to gather intelligence on Iranian opposition activists.[10]

Leadership

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OIAC is led by political director Majid Sadeghpour. OIAC has a 3 members on the board of directors,[11] 8 members on the board of advisors.,[12] and 7 members in the governing body.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Welcome to OIAC". OAIC.org. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. ^ Ackerman, Spencer (19 September 2018). "Giuliani to Speak Beside Leader of Accused Iranian 'Cult'". Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Iran is at the heart of radical Islam". thehill.com. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e "The White House Once Labeled Them Terrorists. Now They're Being Called Iran's Next Government". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  7. ^ "Plan for future Iran in 10 points". Maryam Rajavi. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  8. ^ Protesters Rally Against Iranian President at United Nations Archived 2023-03-10 at the Wayback Machine by REBECCA GIBIAN, Associated Press; 20 September 2017
  9. ^ Demonstrators gather at White House to support Iranian ‘liberty, democracy’ Archived 2023-03-10 at the Wayback Machine; By Dick Uliano, WTOP-FM, 6 January 2018
  10. ^ Lipin, Michael. "US Judge Denies Bond to Iranian Man Accused of Spying for Tehran". VOA. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  11. ^ OIAC (22 October 2015). "Board of Directors | OIAC US". OIAC. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  12. ^ OIAC (17 June 2017). "Board of Advisors | OIAC US". OIAC. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  13. ^ OIAC (7 August 2017). "Governing Body | OIAC US". OIAC. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
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