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Iranian influence in US from the State Department to Congress

An Endowment for the Middle East (EMET) Webinar

Several weeks ago, a report by former Wall Street Journal reporter Jay Solomon published by the Semafor website revealed that senior U.S. government officials and former top advisers were part of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s “Iran Experts Initiative.”

The article was based on materials gathered by London-based Iran International, including emails showing government officials’ participation in this secret Iranian government influence scheme. A scheme that may have impacted everything from sanctions relief to negotiations leading to the recent release by the Biden administration of a $6 billion ransom payment to Iran.

One thing is clear: Iranian influence peddlers, sympathizers and potential spies have no place in the U.S. government. They threaten our national security and that of our allies. In the face of the recent Hamas war, this could not be clearer. Gabriel Noronha, who has been working on these issues for many years, joins us to discuss this and related matters.

“If you define antisemitism narrowly, then you will miss” much of the harassment, discrimination and violence targeting Jews today, Alyza Lewin of the Combat Antisemitism Movement told JNS.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions on people and entities in China and Hong Kong that it said were helping the Iranian regime secure weapons.
Although most polls show Religious Zionism, which is led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, passing the electoral threshold, the numbers are too close for comfort for Israel’s premier.
“If there is any evidence of fraud, abuse or ties to designated terrorist organizations, we will act,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.
The countries accused Iranian intelligence services and the IRGC of orchestrating attacks and intimidation campaigns through criminal proxies across Europe, North America and Australia.
The organization, which has supported more than 15,000 lone soldiers over the past 15 years, was recognized for its contribution to Israeli society at a ceremony in Jerusalem.