Mission and Vision:

Iran has been the cradle of many advanced civilizations of the modern history covering thousands of years. Various religions and nationalities including Persians, Azeris, Kurds, baluchies, Arabs, Turkamans have coexisted on this plateau on tolerance and respect for each other for centuries. 

However, today, Iran and its people suffer from the lack of democracy, freedom of speech and association, social justice and peace and basic respect for human rights due to repressive regimes in the last century.  All the regimes within the last century have denied the people the freedom to assemble and the freedom to choose, which are paramount for a free and democratic society.  Iranian society has rarely seen a free media giving the population another angle of looking at the affairs of their country and the conduct of their rulers.  The politics of the country has either been conducted by a king or a cleric which has resulted in devastation.

The history of Iran, at least in the last century, shows that the people of Iran are not alien to the concepts of democracy and freedom; the constitutionalist movement of early 20^th century and the revolution of 1979 are two great examples of how the people of Iran turn into waves of change for the sake of their country; however, the despotic nature of the rulers along with world powers disregard for the consecutive regimes’ oppressive nature, among them the United States of America, and their discard for the will of the people of Iran for the sake of “security and stability” has led to the derailment of their democratization process.

The tragic event of September 11, 2001 has drastically shifted the policy of the world community among them the United States of America towards the Middle East and its governments.  The US policy makers are vigorously questioning the policy of appeasement of the cold war; furthermore, the important subject of democracy and freedom can no longer be sacrificed for security and stability. 

The long term interest of the American foreign policy, as the policy makers have come to grasp, relies on the democratization of the region that might lead to instability in the short-run, but will result in the long term peace and stability and as well as the assurance of US interest in the region.

The old thinking of the cold war of wining more alliances in the region at what ever cost is no longer valid in the eyes of the US policy makers; therefore, regimes, including Iran under the Islamic Republic of Iran that have been able to escape international scrutiny in the last 30 years, can no longer deprive their population of freedom and democracy.  The people of the Middle East, including the people of Iran have welcomed the new policy of the United States; furthermore, unlike the regimes in power, they view America as a friend rather than a foe.

The countries that have been under dictatorship for decades among them Iran, under the Islamic Republic of Iran, are feeling the heat of change that has been excreted by their people as well as by the international community’s support including the US for the cause of their freedom.

The American Iranian Democracy Initiative (AIDIRAN) advocates American policy towards the Middle East that promotes respect for human rights, civil and political librities and the rule of law.   

AIDIRAN is a non-political organization of Iranian-American that first and foremost

• Views the current regime in Iran as an obstacle to peace and stability not only in Iran but also the region at large.

• Supports the popular call for democratic change in Iran for a government that respects the rule of law and individual freedom.

• Views Iran as a multi-ethnic mosaic that accommodating the rights of the ethnic minorities is paramount to a future free, democratic and unified Iran.

• Views the US role and engagement in the future of Iran and support for its people vital to the development of democratic and just government in Iran.

• Views free ‘open’ ‘accountable’ and ‘diverse’ media as the most crucial pillar of a democratic society.

AIDIRAN strives to:

• Further engage the US policy-makers in the democratization of Iran to assist the people of Iran in establishing their democratic government.

• Produce educational materials on good governance, federalism, human rights and democracy in various languages.

• Publish journal and publications advocating democracy, good governance and tolerance in the multi-ethnic and multi-culture Iran.

• Promote the Freedom of Expression and the Free Flow of Information so people can have access to independent, diverse sources of news and information.