Report Reveals Iranian Regime Ties to US Universities

Relatives of senior Iranian officials are studying and working at universities across the United States, according to a report that has raised questions about security and political influence amid the ongoing conflict between Washington, Israel and Tehran.

The report identifies individuals linked to Iran’s political and security establishment who are currently affiliated with institutions including the University of Massachusetts, Union College in New York and George Washington University.

Among them is Leila Khatami, a mathematics professor at Union College and daughter of former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami. Another case cited is Ehsan Nobakht, an associate professor of medicine at George Washington University, whose father previously held a senior role in Iran’s health ministry.

The report also highlights Zeinab Hajjarian, a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and daughter of Saeed Hajjarian, a figure associated with Iran’s intelligence apparatus following the 1979 revolution.

In Illinois, Zahra Mohaghegh Damad, a professor of nuclear engineering, is identified as the daughter of a prominent cleric and a relative of senior Iranian political figures.

One of the most high-profile cases involves Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of senior Iranian leader Ali Larijani, who was recently killed in an airstrike. She had worked as a physician at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute until earlier this year, when the university ended her employment following public pressure.

The presence of such individuals has drawn criticism from some analysts and activists, who argue that allowing relatives of regime figures to live and work in the US raises broader concerns. Critics point to what they describe as a contradiction between Iran’s anti-American rhetoric and the presence of family members of officials in Western institutions.

Petitions have circulated online calling for investigations into the immigration status of some individuals mentioned in the report, though no evidence has been presented indicating wrongdoing by those named.

Experts estimate that several thousand relatives of Iranian political and bureaucratic elites may be living in the United States, with additional numbers in countries such as Canada and Australia. Tracking them can be difficult, particularly when family members do not share the same surnames.

The issue comes as tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran continue to escalate, bringing renewed attention to Iranian influence networks and diaspora communities abroad.

University affiliations and employment decisions have also come under increased scrutiny, as institutions face pressure to respond to political concerns while balancing academic independence and individual rights.

The report adds to a broader debate in Washington over how to approach individuals connected to foreign governments, particularly those considered adversarial, in areas such as academia, research and public discourse.