Washington, DC - A bipartisan congressional team from across the nation heard expert testimony today regarding the growing strategic threat from Iran.  The special briefing, which was co-hosted by Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, received details about Iran’s push to acquire nuclear weapons, their brutal repression of dissidents and women, and the regimes’ continuing support of Iraqi insurgents who are committing violent attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces.

“Iran’s ongoing push to acquire nuclear weapons, their increasingly dangerous missile capability, their continued support of anti-democracy insurgents in Iraq and the brutal human rights violations directed against their own civilian population are issues that U.S. policy must address,” said Clay.  “The Iranian regime poses an immediate threat to the entire region and ultimately threatens our nation and our allies.”

Joining Mr. Clay in sponsoring the panel were Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R) Florida; Congressman Bob Filner (D) New York; Congressman John Boozman (R) Arkansas; Congressman Tom Tancredo (R) Colorado; Congressman Ed Towns (D) New York and Congressman Ted Poe (R) Texas.

Also testifying were representatives from the National Coalition of Pro-Democracy Advocates, a Washington, DC – based group of Iranians who oppose the current regime in Tehran, and Iranian-Americans who support them.  The group has been promoting freedom and human rights in Iran for more than two decades.