I am thrilled for the Americans who will soon be reunited with their families after so many years. As the author of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (2020), I welcomed the sanctions leveled by the Administration against Ahmadinejad who notoriously oversaw the political hostage-taking of many Americans and foreign nationals, including my former constituent Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iran in 2007. Iran has still not accounted for Bob’s disappearance and tragic passing. The Levinson family deserves this justice.
Press Releases and Statements
Find American Jewish Committee's latest press releases, official statements, and noteworthy announcements below.
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AJC CEO Ted Deutch on Today's Announcement on Wrongfully Detained Americans in Iran
I am encouraged by the news that five Americans whose lives, and whose families’ lives, have been upended by Iran’s longstanding callous practice of political hostage-taking and wrongfully detaining foreign nationals for use as bargaining chips, are closer than ever before to coming home as a result of the agreement announced today.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Calls for More Action Against IRGC, Warns Iran Must Be Kept In Check To Thwart Nuclear Ambitions and Aiding Russia in Ukraine
Today at AJC Global Forum 2023, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said her nation stands with Israel in stemming the threat posed by Iran’s growing nuclear capability and promised her country would do its part to keep Iran’s nuclear ambitions in check.
AJC Urges U.S. to Lead Efforts to Convene UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Iran Human Rights Abuses
American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch, in a letter to President Biden, has urged the United States to mobilize the international community to convene a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the Iranian regime’s deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters. AJC also launched today an online campaign, AJC.org/StopIranAbuses, encouraging individuals to sign a petition calling on the White House to take action detailed in Deutch’s letter to the president
American Jewish Committee Presents Moral Courage Award to Masih Alinejad, Prominent Opponent of Iranian Regime
Masih Alinejad, one of the most outspoken opponents of the Islamic regime in Tehran, was honored today by American Jewish Committee (AJC) with the global advocacy organization’s Moral Courage Award. AJC honored Alinejad for her “moral, intellectual, and physical courage, extraordinary bravery, and commitment to the protection of human rights.”
Bahrain Foreign Minister Addresses AJC Global Forum on Arab-Israel Peace, Iran Threat
His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, addressed a worldwide audience of thousands participating in the 2021 American Jewish Committee Virtual Global Forum. In a conversation with Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, the foreign minister discussed the historic Abraham Accords, Bahrain-U.S. relations, and the Iranian threat.
Mithal al-Alusi Receives AJC’s Jan Karski Award
Mithal Jamal Al-Alusi, an Iraqi politician who has reached out to Israel and world Jewry, was honored today with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Jan Karski Award.
AJC Welcomes New Sanctions on Iran
Following President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order yesterday, which restored major sanctions on Iran, AJC CEO David Harris issued the following statement: We support the U.S. decision
AJC Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Iran Nuclear Deal
AJC CEO David Harris, responding to President Trump’s announcement today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, issued the following statement:
AJC Transatlantic Institute Criticizes European Parliament for Blocking Cartoon Exhibition on Iran
AJC deplored the European Parliament for barring a cross-party group of EU lawmakers from hosting a cartoon exhibition highlighting Tehran’s human rights violations.
AJC on President Trump’s Approach to Iran
AJC noted President Trump’s announcement today that the U.S. will not pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and will again waive the reimposition of sanctions, but will take punitive steps against Iran for issues not directly related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
AJC Praises Uruguay for Expelling Iranian Diplomat
AJC praised Uruguay for expelling a senior Iranian diplomat suspected of involvement with a bomb placed near Israel’s embassy in Montevideo. No one was hurt and the bomb was defused.
AJC Praises Senate Committee Adoption of Iran Sanctions Bill
AJC praised the U.S. Senate Banking Committee for passing, with strong bipartisan support, a bill that will set the stage to impose additional economic sanctions on Iran if current negotiations on its nuclear program fail to yield a permanent agreement.
AJC: Alberto Nisman Death Tragedy for AMIA Justice
AJC is shocked by the death of Alberto Nisman, the Argentina Special Prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which resulted in 85 fatalities and hundreds of wounded.
AJC: Iran Conference Promotes Hatred of Jews, Israel
AJC called on the U.S. and European governments to strongly condemn an international gathering in Tehran promoting hatred of Jews and Israel.
AJC Welcomes Limited Extension in P5+1 Nuclear Talks with Iran
AJC welcomed the limited extension in the P5+1 nuclear talks with Iran announced early today in Vienna.