In a recent scandal involving a former high-ranking Iranian official and a Princeton professor, Seyed Hossein Mousavian is accused of endorsing terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas in a 1997 interview with a German newspaper. These revelations come at a time when Mousavian is facing a congressional probe for allegedly advancing the interests of Iran. The investigation into Mousavian’s ties to Iran is ongoing, and no findings have been issued by the congressional committee yet. Mousavian, who is a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist at Princeton University, had previous interactions with the Obama administration and the Biden administration, raising concerns among lawmakers.
Mousavian’s 1997 interview with the German paper Taz revealed his support for Hamas in their struggle, although he denied providing weapons to the organization. He also stated that Iran supports Hezbollah morally, not by supplying weapons. The interview, which was translated by the U.S. Middle East Media Research Institute, shed light on Mousavian’s alleged role in stoking terrorism in Europe, including the assassination of Kurdish dissidents in a Berlin restaurant in 1992. Mousavian’s appearance at a U.S. STRATCOM military event caused concern among members of the Armed Services Committees due to his controversial past.
The calls for Mousavian’s dismissal have come amidst other scandals involving pro-Iran regime academics, such as Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, who was ousted from Oberlin College after teaching pro-Hamas ideologies and calling for the destruction of Israel. Iranian American human rights activist Lawdan Bazargan led a campaign to terminate Mahallati’s employment at Oberlin College, and similar calls have been made to fire Mousavian at Princeton University. The California-based Alliance Against the Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA) spearheaded the efforts to hold these academics accountable for their controversial views.
Mousavian has faced backlash for comparing Israel’s actions to Nazi Germany’s crimes and making false claims about Israel’s bombing of a hospital in Gaza. Antisemitism experts have condemned Mousavian’s comments and called for action against him. The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Rabbi Abraham Cooper has criticized Princeton University for allowing Mousavian to continue in his role despite his inflammatory remarks. Cooper has called for an investigation into Princeton University to address these issues related to national security and academic integrity.
The controversy surrounding Mousavian’s past statements and actions continue to raise concerns about his role at Princeton University and his influence on students. The campaign to terminate his employment has gained traction, with organizations and experts calling for action against him for his support of terrorist organizations and inflammatory comments against Israel. As the investigation into Mousavian’s ties to Iran continues, lawmakers and experts are monitoring the situation closely to ensure accountability and transparency in academia. The scandal involving Mousavian, Mahallati, and other pro-Iran regime academics highlights the need for vigilance and oversight in higher education to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and antisemitism.
