PRESENT

NEW LEADERSHIP IN IRAN: TIME FOR RAPPROCHEMENT?

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 | 4:00 PM 6:00 PM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDIA AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ROOM B07 805 21ST ST NW WASHINGTON, DC 20006

COVERED BY:

NEW LEADERSHIP IN IRAN: TIME FOR RAPPROCHEMENT?

The "New Leadership in Iran: Time for Rapprochement?" conference is an opportunity to identify the prospects and mechanisms for a breakthrough in US-Iran relations. Since the election of President Hassan Rouhani in June there has been a shift in rhetoric in both Washington and Tehran. While still cautious, both governments have expressed a renewed desire to resolve the nuclear dossier while taking the first tentative steps toward normalized relations in over three decades. Despite the optimism created by the recent events in the United Nations General Assembly and P5+1 talks in Geneva, both presidents face opposition from conservative elements at home. The conference aims to build upon the momentum created by the election of moderate Dr. Hassan Rouhani as Iranian president, President Obama's engagement policy with Tehran and the recent events at the UNGA and Geneva to generate ideas for a possible breakthrough in relations.

Conference organized by AIC Associate John Wass

CONFERENCE PROGRAM
4:00 PM WELCOMING REMARKS John Wass Associate, American Iranian Council Manuela Kurkaa Organizer of Academic Programming, GW University International Affairs Society 4:15 NEW LEADERSHIP IN IRAN: TIME FOR RAPPROCHEMENT? Amb. William Miller Board Member, American Iranian Council Dr. Patrick Clawson Director of Research, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Prof. Hooshang Amirahmadi Professor, Rutgers University & Founder and President, American Iranian Council Dr. Andrew Parasiliti Editor & CEO, Al-Monitor.com 5:15

Q&A
5:45 CLOSING REMARKS Kayvon Afshari Director of Communications, American Iranian Council

BIOGRAPHY OF SPEAKERS
Ambassador William Miller is a Senior Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He has led a distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service, U.S. Senate staff, academia, foundations, and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining the Wilson Center, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine from 1993 to 1998. Ambassador Miller had previously served as political officer for the U.S. Embassy in Tehran from 1962 to 1964 as well as the U.S. Consulate in Isfahan, Iran from 1959 to 1962. He spent 14 years on Capitol Hill, where he served as the staff director for three different Senate committees, including the Select Committee on Intelligence. Ambassador Miller has taught at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

Dr. Patrick Clawson is Director of Research at The Washington Institute, where he directs the Iran Security Initiative. Widely consulted as an analyst and media commentator, he has authored more than 150 articles about the Middle East and international economics and is the author or editor of eighteen books or studies on Iran. Dr. Clawson appears frequently on television and radio, and has published oped articles in major newspapers including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. He has also testified before congressional committees more than twenty times and has served as an expert witness in more than thirty federal cases against Iran. Prior to joining The Washington Institute, he was a senior research professor at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies, a senior economist at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and a research scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

BIOGRAPHY OF SPEAKERS
Dr. Hooshang Amirahmadi is the Founder and President of the American Iranian Council. He is also a professor and former director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University. He holds a PhD from Cornell University and is a Senior Associate Member at Oxford University in the U.K. His publications include The Political Economy of Iran under the Qajars, Revolution and Economic Transition, and three other books in Persian on civil society, industrial policy, and geopolitics of energy. Dr. Amirahmadi is also editor of ten books on Iran and the Middle East, and 16 conference proceedings on US-Iran relations, as well as numerous journal articles.

Dr. Andrew Parasiliti is Editor & CEO of Al-Monitor.com. He serves on the Board of Directors of the US Friends of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Before joining Al-Monitor, Dr. Parasiliti was Executive Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies-US and Corresponding Director, IISS-Middle East; Principal, Government AffairsInternational, at The BGR Group; Foreign Policy Advisor to US Senator Chuck Hagel; Director of the Middle East Initiative at the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; and Director of Programs at the Middle East Institute. He received a Ph.D. from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

ORGANIZER AMERICAN IRANIAN COUNCIL

HISTORY The American Iranian Council (AIC) was incorporated in the State of New Jersey in 1997 as a [501 C (3)] nonprofit and nonpartisan educational organization to provide research, policy analysis, public education, and community mobilization. AIC seeks to help policy makers and citizens overcome many of the key misunderstandings, misperceptions and mischaracterizations that exist between United States and Iran. MISSION The mission of the AIC provides for a sustainable dialogue and a more comprehensive understanding of US-Iran relations. AIC organizes and promotes the Iranian-American community and encourages its participation in these efforts for a more democratic, transparent, mutually respectful, and sustainable relations between the two countries. ACCOMPLISHMENTS AIC events and mediations have facilitated major breakthroughs in the US-Iran relations. Examples include: Secretary Madeleine Albrights historic speech on Iran, when she expressed regret about 1953 coup and past US policy mistakes, lifted sanctions on carpets and food items, and offered Iran a global settlement. Years later, Iran's President Mohammad Khatami would characterize this initiative as a "missed opportunity." Vice President Joe Bidens and Senator John Kerrys proposals for dialogue between the US Congress and the Iranian Parliament. Meeting among Speaker Mehdi Karubi and other members of the Iranian parliament and their American counterparts in New York City. US-Iran dialogue over Iraq and the so-called Grand Bargain initiative. The American Iranian Council's presence in Iran under a rare OFAC license. President Obamas humanitarian attention to Irans civilian airline tragedies and his Administrations agreement to entertain a proposal from Iran to purchase spare parts from the United States. Release of Sarah Shourd, the American hiker arrested in Iran, and the continued efforts to free her colleagues, Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal. Introduction of the Shield Iranian-Americans from Sanctions (SIAS) as a civil right project.

NOTES

CONTRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN IRANIAN COUNCIL

Thank you for supporting AIC to achieve its goal of improving US-Iran relations. Your contribution will enable AIC implement the following vital projects: REVIVING IRAN'S IMAGE Irans image in the west has often been demonized as a rogue nation. This project aims to correct this false image, bringing the nations true face to the international community. SHIELD IRANIAN-AMERICANS FROM SANCTIONS The US sanctions against Iran have made Iranian-Americans vulnerable with possible discriminatory consequences. The purpose of this project is to shield this community from sanctions and discriminations. MAPPING THE US-IRAN PEACE The neither war nor peace status quo in US-Iran relation is not sustainable. The road to further conflict is the path to hell! This project will provide a roadmap towards peace. BUILDING AN INFORMED COMMUNITY THROUGH SOLH TV A wall of mistrust separates the two great nations of US and Iran. This project is designed to demolish this wall and build mutual respect and friendship through a television channel, called Solh (Peace) TV.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN IRANIAN COUNCIL

$25.00 $150.00

$50.00 $200.00

$75.00

$100.00

Contribution $__________________

Name: ______________________________________________________ Title: ____________

Institution/ Company:___________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________

City: ________________________State: ____________________Zip Code: _______________

Phone: _________________________________Fax: __________________________________

Email:__________________________________________________________________________

Payment Information: Check (payable to AIC) VISA

MasterCard

AMEX

Card Number: ___________________________________Expiration Date: ________________

Please mail or fax the completed form to AIC. AMERICAN IRANIAN COUNCIL P.O. Box 707, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA Phone: 609 252-9099 | Fax: 609 252-9698
AIC is a 501C(3) non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible.

Thank you for your support!

ORGANIZER
AMERICAN IRANIAN COUNCIL AIC IS A 501 C (3) NON-PROFIT AND NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION

CONTACT
AMERICAN IRANIAN COUNCIL P.O. BOX 707, PRINCETON, NJ 08540 Tel: 609.252.9099 | Fax: 609.252.0088 info@american-iranian.org | www.american-iranian.org