Hassan Rouhani, the new President of Iran, has claimed that he is not only seeking more transparency about the country’s nuclear activities, but also has a focus on civil rights. Meanwhile, Washington is once again seeking to establish a relationship with Iran. The important question here is: what role will the US Congress play?

In recent years, the US Congress has focused heavily on sanctions, actions that have targeted Iran’s economy, but it is time for Congress to elevate its policy by establishing a “Committee on Human Rights in Iran” and paying more attention to human rights violations in the country.

Congress must be smart and use the experiences of the Cold War, such as the experience of the Helsinki Commission. This was an action that helped empower dissidents in the Soviet Union bloc. The Committee on Human Rights in Iran must put pressure on the Iranian government to improve the human rights situation by clearly defining red lines.

The religious government of Iran not only violates international human rights standards through torture, arbitrary

With continued alarming disregard for human rights in Iran, Western diplomats convey the belief that as long as they fulfill their commitments regarding arms control, it is acceptable for them to also violate some international norms.

If Iranian religious leaders believe that a subjective interpretation of international laws is acceptable, they will believe they can also violate their commitments to arms control when they are in a bind.

Sanctions and economic pressures may force Iran to sign nuclear agreements, but it gives their leaders the mindset that after being released from the burden of economic problems, they can still resort to violence and violate the rights of the people.

Furthermore, Western diplomats who have refrained from addressing human rights issues create ambiguity in the minds of Iranians, suggesting that international treaties are just a list of options that can be accepted or rejected based on individual preferences.

Rouhani undoubtedly faces many challenges, and adopting a different policy on the nuclear issue is just one of them. Congress can take another important step by putting pressure on human rights issues, so that