Iranian-American NGO urges White House to act as Tehran cracks down on protestors

As protests in Iran over mass water shortages continue to turn violent, an Iranian-American group is calling on the Biden administration for a meeting to discuss ways to hold the regime accountable for its violent treatment of peaceful demonstrators.

Iranians have been on the streets of Isfahan – a city 200 miles from Tehran – since Nov. 9, calling for the government to address the mismanagement of the nation’s water supply. On Saturday, police arrested 67 peaceful demonstrators.

Police General Hassan Karami told reporters, “We have arrested 67 of the main actors and agitators behind the troubles,” further alleging that up to 3,000 “rioters” took to the streets.

But the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), an Iranian-American non-profit that promotes human rights in Iran, believes the latest protests represent a watershed moment for the hardline clerical regime in Tehran.

So far, the government forces have shot at protestors and shut down the country’s internet to try to squash the popular organization, The Washington Free Beacon reported.

NUFDI leadership has stated that they have tried to meet with U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley, but that his office has denied requests for a meeting. The Iranian-American group has also sent a warning to the Biden administration that protests will likely be met with increased hostility from an increasingly nervous regime.

The White House reportedly “ignored those warnings,” however, according to a letter sent on Monday by NUFDI to the State Department and the White House.

“We call on you to hold an immediate roundtable of Iranian-Americans including pro-democracy activists, dissidents, and experts to discuss the unfolding situation in Iran and how the United States can help. Thus far our multiple attempts to meet with Mr. Malley have been unsuccessful,” the letter read.

The protests add strain to both Tehran and Washington, just days after Iranian officials formally agreed to discuss steps to come back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The renewed talks in Vienna have led activists and Republicans in Congress to accuse the Biden administration of prioritizing the nuclear deal ahead of human rights and democracy for the Iranian people.

"Iran has been reduced to a mere nuclear file. The ongoing crimes against humanity and the Iranian people's widespread campaign for freedom have been roundly ignored," NUFDI leadership said, demanding that the administration "enforce all current human rights-related sanctions" and immediately investigate the Iranian regime's violent crackdown on protesters.

NUFDI also urged the White House to avoid a repeat of the Obama administration's contentious decision to abandon support for protestors during the 2009 Green Revolution, in which they threatened to topple the regime.

"After the Obama administration ignored the Iranian people's pleas for solidarity in 2009, many of your former colleagues have since expressed regret at the bloodshed their inaction helped cause," the letter states. "As the regime opens fire on peaceful protesters in Isfahan, we hope you will not have the same regrets."