The US Department of State Consular Affairs, which provides crucial information on US passports, visas and international travel, welcomed Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar to the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Christmas eve. According to an official social media post shared by the government department, the Iranian-American official was sworn in this to “implement President Trump’s priorities, including the advancement of policies that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
Following the swearing in ceremony, she has become the first Iranian-American told hold this official post.
Iranian-American Mora Namdar was long associated with the US State Dept
Contrary to the “welcome” announcement, this isn’t Namdar’s first term in the US State Department. Prior to ascending to the Assistant Secretary post in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, she was originally serving as the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from May 19, 2025, through December 1, 2025.
As part of his formal position, she was leading US foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa (NEA) at the State Department, according to her official profile on the US government website. Namdar’s initial appointment as the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs went through on December 22, 2020.
We are excited to welcome Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar to the Bureau of Consular Affairs! A/S Namdar was sworn in this week to implement President Trump’s priorities, including the advancement of policies that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. pic.twitter.com/JA3yAiCHQP
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) December 24, 2025
While leading as the Senior Bureau Official, she worked behind the scene to support Trump’s “policy of peace.” And so, the post required her to work in support of the Gaza Peace plans, Middle East stabilisation, countering the Iranian regime’s influence and supporting human rights, according to her government profile.
Most importantly, with Trump laser-focussed on the ‘America First’ agenda, she also promoted investment in the US and American technology, while pushing for US strategic messaging and internet freedom among other things.
More about Trump-backed Mora Namdar
As an expert on US national security and international human rights issues, he previously served as the acting Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs; the Vice President of Legal, Compliance and Risk at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM); and even a Senior Advisor at the US Department of State.
Before taking on the government service, Namdar founded an eponymously named law practice called Namdar Law PLLC.
According to her profile on the legal practice’s website, she got her Juris Doctor title (JD) from the American University, Washington College of Law Washington, DC. She also has a Master’s in International Affairs from American University, School of International Service.
Her other academic qualifications include Bachelor’s in Political Science, Bachelor’s in International Affairs with Minors in Fine Art, Philosophy, Human Rights from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Additionally, Namdar studied Political Science at Oxford University.
These past few years, Mora Namdar has contributed several op-ed pieces to various US news outlets as well. Here are some of them:
- “The Iranian Regime Is on Borrowed Time. We Must Not Give It a Lifeline. | Opinion” for Newsweek (2022)
- “Joe Biden’s Afghan Failure will Echo for Ages” for 19fortyfive.com (2021)
- “For progress on Iran, focus on the people” for The Hill (2021)
- “The Human Rights Element of Iran Policy” for The National Interest (2021)
- “Deciphering the Iranian Paradox – It’s Not Left Wing, It’s Not Right Wing, It’s the Right Thing: No Engagement, No War, The Time Has Come to Support the Will of the Iranian People” – American University Washington College of Law National Security Law Brief (2011)
