My grandfather, Yousef Khoshkish, was the last Governor of the Central Bank in Iran before the Islamic Revolution. He was executed by Khomeini’s regime 44 years ago, today. Every day, especially today, I think of his legacy serving Iran. Before his time at the Central Bank, he served as the head of Bank Melli for 17 years, where he turned a struggling institution into one of the nation's pillars. Despite talks of needing to close branches and lay off employees, under my grandfather’s leadership, Bank Melli grew from 180 to 1,800 branches, becoming the 60th largest bank in the world, while ensuring no employees lost their jobs or benefits. That legacy was what he worked and died for. My grandfather's story taught me at a very young age what it meant to love and serve the Iranian people, no matter what. He will always be remembered as a true and selfless patriot ❤️

I was honored to speak at the @NUFDIran conference yesterday and met so many incredible, engaged Iranians and Iranian-Americans who are fighting for democracy in their homeland. Take a moment to bear witness to who they’re fighting for.

There are moments when history is written in the halls of power, and there are moments when it is written in the streets. To kick off Day 2 of the #IranConference, we honored generations of Iranians determined to write their own history and take their country back:

NUFDI is honored to welcome @MorganOrtagus back for this year’s #IranConference 💪🏼

Former Deputy @CENTCOM Commander Admiral Robert Harward, at NUFDI’s Iran Conference: “We’ve got to work together to bring change to make Iran what it could and should be, and what it was in its history; and more importantly, support the people of Iran.”

.@AbdulElSayed, An Iranian-American asked you one thing: do you condemn the IRGC, the force that has spent 47 years killing and terrorizing 90 million Iranians, and helped butcher Syrians too. You didn’t answer. You put words in his mouth. You pretended he wanted you to cheer a U.S. strike on Iran. You did it because you support the IRGC. The same IRGC that funds Hamas. The same IRGC that funds Hezbollah. Both of which you also defend. I am Iranian. Until my last breath, I stand against you, every cause you support, and anyone who supports you. I will use my platform to expose the monster you and your camp protect, a monster Iranians and Syrians already know by name. I will use my platform to expose you and your evil.

Congressman @RepJoeWilson delivering a message of solidarity to the Iranian people at @NUFDIran’s Iran Conference:

The sacrifice of those whose lives were taken in the pursuit of freedom is not a footnote to Iran’s story. Before we kicked off this year’s Iran Conference, discussing the future of Iran, we honored those who gave everything for it:

"I also" - well thanks for your afterthought?

This is nonsense, and only serves to advance the regime’s goal of making Iranians feel hopeless and discouraging the US from actually meaningfully empowering the Iranian people. From the same people who told you Iranians would rally around the flag last year, right before the biggest uprising in Iran yet.

"Giving and receiving love, good energy, joy, and recreation. To have these, we need freedom." Sarina Esmailzadeh laid out for us very clearly what her generation of Iranians were fighting for. She was killed by the Islamic Republic on September 23rd, 2022, in that same fight.

16-year-old Iranian vlogger Sarina Esmailzadeh's final post: "Life is full of pain." Posted 4 days before the regime murdered Mahsa Amini, and 11 days before the regime murdered Sarina for protesting Mahsa's death.

این هفته، واشنگتن دی‌سی میزبان پنجمین دوره سالانه «کنفرانس ایران» است که از سوی سازمان نوفدی برگزار می‌شود. «بهنام طالب‌لو » - مدیر ارشد میز ایران در اندیشکده «بنیاد دفاع از دموکراسی‌ها» (FDD) - یکی از چهره‌های حاضر در کنفرانس امسال است. پنج‌شنبه و جمعه، سخنان او و دیگر چهره‌های حاضر در «کنفرانس ایران» را به‌صورت زنده از یوتیوب و ایکس نوفدی دنبال کنید. @NUFDIran @therealBehnamBT

"What are the needs of a teenager? Love, good energy, joy, and recreation. To have these, we need freedom." Below, 16-year-old Sarina highlights what her generation in Iran is fighting and dying for. She was killed by the Islamic Republic in 2022:

تا دو روز دیگر، سازمان نوفدی پنجمین دوره سالانه «کنفرانس ایران» را در واشنگتن دی‌سی برگزار می‌کند. الیوت آبرامز، نماینده ویژه پیشین ایالات متحده در امور ایران، از جمله میهمانان این کنفرانس است. پنج‌شنبه و جمعه‌ی این هفته می‌توانید‌ سخنان او و دیگر سخنرانان را از طریق پخش زنده در یوتیوب و ایکس نوفدی دنبال کنید. @NUFDIran

"An Iran that is free, stable, and reconnected to the world would not only benefit Iranians. It would create economic opportunities, strengthen regional security, and provide a more reliable partner for the international community." - @PahlaviReza, Crown Prince of Iran at #Concordia26

All while regime officials sit in New York for UNGA:

This week, NUFDI is hosting its 5th annual #IranConference, here in Washington, D.C.. Joining us is former senior U.S. Treasury official and Senior Fellow at FDD, @miadmaleki. Hear from him and others on Thursday and Friday by streaming the Conference on NUFDI's YouTube and X.

Ali Zarei took to the streets alongside his countrymen in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini. Regime forces shot him in the eye, leaving him blinded. He left the country, but later returned. Upon his return, he was sentenced to death. Yesterday, he was transferred to solitary confinement. His death sentence may be carried out at any moment. Say Ali's name, and share his story. His life is in imminent danger.