Republican members of the influential House Committee of Education and the Workforce have initiated an investigation into the role of former Iranian official, Seyed Hossein Mousavian, at Princeton University. The committee members have raised concerns about Mousavian’s alleged advancement of Iran’s interests, as Iran is considered a state sponsor of terrorism. In a letter addressed to Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber, twelve Republican committee members have posed detailed questions about the influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the campus of the Ivy League institution. Republican Representative Lisa McClain expressed outrage at the platform given to a former member of the Iranian regime at Princeton, emphasizing that Iran is a major adversary and a state sponsor of terrorism.
The investigation was prompted by Mousavian’s attendance at the funeral of Qassem Soleimani, a designated Iranian regime terrorist, as well as his appearance in a tribute program for Soleimani on Iranian TV. Mousavian clarified that his comments about the wife of Brian Hook, the former U.S. Iran envoy, were taken out of context and that he has always opposed assassinations and threats against both Iranian and U.S. nationals. Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp’s Quds Force, was assassinated by the U.S. military in January 2020 for his alleged role in the deaths of American military personnel in the Middle East.
Republicans have criticized Mousavian’s presence at Princeton and have called for action to address what they perceive as corruption and influence peddling within higher education. Mousavian, who specializes in Middle East security and nuclear policy, previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Germany. German authorities have accused the embassy he was in charge of serving as the headquarters for planning the assassination of four Iranian dissidents in Berlin in 1992. Mousavian denies these accusations and asserts that his work is purely academic.
The investigation into Mousavian’s ties with the Iranian government is fueled by concerns about Iranian influence and antisemitism on college campuses. Republicans argue that Mousavian’s teachings promote anti-Israel and antisemitic narratives. They also criticize Princeton for employing Rob Malley, Joe Biden’s former envoy who is currently under federal investigation for mishandling classified information and is considered an apologist for Iran. Republicans believe that Princeton should sever ties with Mousavian and Malley.
While the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence has stated that Iran is not currently developing nuclear weapons, European intelligence reports from 2023 suggest that Iran does have an active atomic weapons program.
Princeton University has not responded to requests for comment on the investigation.
