As Tehran tightens its grip on information at home and escalates pressure abroad, Congress is weighing a complex set of policy responses, from targeted sanctions and human rights accountability mechanisms to support for internet freedom and regional security responses. This 90-minute briefing hosted by DT Institute brings together leading practitioners and subject-matter experts to provide congressional staff with a clearer picture of Iran’s evolving political and security landscape and the policy considerations shaping U.S. responses.

The panel will examine:

• Internet censorship, shutdowns, and information access inside Iran
• Accountability efforts addressing human rights violations
• Iran’s regional security posture and military trajectory
• Emerging U.S. policy considerations and congressional priorities

Advance registration is requested to facilitate Visitor Center access and check-in. RSVP today

Featured Panelists

Farzin Nadimi, Ph.D. — Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Specialist on Iran’s military capabilities, ballistic missile programs, and Persian Gulf security.

Farzaneh Badiei, Ph.D. — Founder, Digital Medusa. Expert on internet governance and digital policy in restrictive information environments.

Hamed Behravan — Vice President & Director of Iran Programs, DT Institute. Designs and executes large-scale, technology-enabled programs supporting civil society and internet freedom in closed environments.

Shahin Milani, J.D. — Executive Director, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. A U.S.-trained attorney and principal author of major IHRDC reports on accountability for human rights abuses in Iran.

Moderator

Arash Aalaei — CEO, Capitol Report. Veteran journalist and policy analyst with two decades of experience covering U.S.–Iran relations, Capitol Hill

Speaker Biographies

Farzaneh Badiei, Ph.D. — Founder, Digital Medusa.

Farzaneh Badiei, PhD is the founder of Digital Medusa, an organization focused on digital governance, internet policy, and human rights in online spaces. Her work examines how internet governance and platform regulation affect users in restrictive information environments, including Iran. Dr. Badiei previously directed the Social Media Governance Initiative at Yale Law School and served as Executive Director of the Internet Governance Project at Georgia Tech. She has also held research positions at Syracuse University and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society in Berlin. She holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Hamburg.

Farzin Nadimi, Ph.D. — Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Farzin Nadimi, PhD is a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he specializes in the security and defense affairs of Iran and the Persian Gulf region. His research focuses on Iran’s military capabilities, regional security strategy, ballistic missile and space programs, asymmetric warfare, and defense-industrial networks. His recent work has examined issues including IRGC military developments, maritime security, and the evolving Russia-China-Iran relationship. Dr. Nadimi holds a Master’s degree in War Studies from King’s College London and a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester.

Hamed Behravan — Vice President & Director of Iran Programs, DT Institute

Hamed Behravan is Vice President and Director of Iran Programs at DT Institute, where he leads technology-driven initiatives focused on internet freedom, access to information, and civil society support in closed environments, particularly Iran. Over more than 15 years in the nonprofit and media sectors, his work has spanned independent media, civic technology, human rights, and digital resilience. Programs under his leadership have distributed more than two million circumvention tools inside Iran and supported training for journalists, netizens, and human rights defenders. Earlier in his career, Mr. Behravan worked as an international broadcaster with Voice of America across the MENA region.

Shahin Milani, J.D. — Executive Director, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center

Shahin Milani is Executive Director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC), an independent non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and promoting accountability for human rights violations in Iran. His work focuses on strategic litigation, human rights documentation, and access to justice for victims of abuse. Mr. Milani is the principal author of numerous IHRDC reports addressing issues including labor rights, religious freedom, minority rights, and gender-based violence in Iran. He holds a J.D. from Howard University School of Law and an LL.M. from Vermont Law School.

Arash Aalaei (Moderator) — ECEO, Capitol Report

Arash Aalaei is a journalist and television producer based in Washington, D.C., with nearly two decades of experience covering U.S.–Iran policy and regional affairs. He is CEO of Capitol Report, an independent bilingual media platform focused on U.S.–Iran relations and developments affecting Iranian audiences. Mr. Aalaei previously served as White House and Congressional Correspondent for Iran International and worked as an international broadcaster with Voice of America. Through his reporting and digital platforms, he has built one of the largest online audiences covering U.S.–Iran policy issues.