Board of Directors 

Panteha Abdollahi

Salman Elmi

Farschad Farzan

Hani Ganji

Katayoun Goshtasbi

Kafah Bachari Manna

Nema Milaninia

Niki K. Moore

Karen Ostad

Anthony B. Ravani

Shahrooz Shahnavaz

Amir Toossi

Hermine Valizadeh

Advisory Board

Jamie Abadian

Nader Ahari

Michael Farhang

Babak Hoghooghi

Houri Khalilian

Ali M. M. Mojdehi

Nader Mousavi

Hamid Rafatjoo

Sima Sarrafan

Soroush Richard Shehabi

Hon. Ashley A. Tabaddor

Farzad Tabatabai

John Tehranian

Transportation Security Administration Issues New Security Directive Requiring Enhanced Screening for Persons Traveling From or Through Iran

January 5, 2010 – Washington, D.C.

On January 3, 2010, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for security in all modes of transportation, announced a new security directive that will mandate that every individual flying into the U.S. from or through Iran, along with 13 other "countries of interest," be subject to enhanced screening.  

According to public statements by TSA and DHS officials, enhanced screenings will include full body scans, pat-downs, carry-on bag searches, and the use of explosive detection technology.  It is unclear at this point, however, whether U.S. citizens, of dual or multi-nationals or permanent residents will be subject to the new directives.

The new regulations come in light of a botched bombing attempt on Christmas Day by a Nigerian man who boarded a U.S.-bound flight in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  The suspect, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, originated his trip in Nigeria and changed planes in Amsterdam to a Northwest Airlines flight headed for Detroit, Michigan.

While the new security directive has not been made public and details are still unclear, the Iranian American Bar Association is working together with other organizations in determining the full extent of the directive and formulating appropriate political and legal responses.