Iranian-Americans to Protest Chinese Influence in Iran

Beginning February 5th, Iranian-Americans from 6 cities will launch a campaign in solidarity with the Democratic protestors in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The protests will be taking place outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC as well as the Chinese Consulates to the United States in Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.


The Iranian-American community has organized these protests due to the increasingly apparent involvement the Chinese have had in Iran’s post-election crisis. The Chinese have recently signed a 25 year contract with Iranian oil companies worth an estimated 100 billion dollars. In exchange for oil, the Chinese have agreed to increase their trade with the Iranian regime. Notably, it has increased its trade in riot-control equipment and crowd control vehicles. The Iranian government uses this trade to fund and equip its Basij militia and to maintain its stranglehold over the peace-seeking protestors in Iran.

The protestors gathering at the Chinese Embassy and Consulates are calling on China to 1) Cease its support for Ahmadinejad, 2) To cease arming and supplying the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guards, and 3) To cease its support for tyranny and terror. In addition, they ask for the Chinese to support the peaceful protestors in Iran in their call for 1) Human rights for all Iranian people, 2) the immediate release of all political prisoners, and 3) Free and fair elections which can be monitored and verified by an independent observer.

The timing of the Iranian-American protests is paramount. February 11th is the anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran and many speculate for large-scale protests to be taking place in Iran at that time. As such, Iranian-Americans wish to express their solidarity for the peaceful protestors within Iran while calling for international support for their struggle.