A University of Tehran professor, Foad Izadi, has made controversial remarks suggesting that the current wave of protests on U.S. college campuses could translate into support for Iran in any potential conflict with the United States. These comments were made during an interview and later translated and disseminated by MEMRI.org, sparking significant discourse on the implications of such statements.
Izadi, who completed his master’s degree at the University of Houston, articulated in the interview that the Islamic Republic of Iran appreciates the protests against the Zionist regime seen in the U.S., viewing them as a sign of diminishing American support for Israel. He expressed optimism about the potential decrease in U.S. backing for Israel, highlighting the importance of the ongoing campus demonstrations to this broader geopolitical narrative.
The professor went on to describe the protesters in the U.S. as aligned with Iran’s stance, suggesting that these individuals would be mobilized in favor of Iran should tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate. He emphasized the strategic significance of fostering such support networks within America, claiming that Hezbollah-style groups in the U.S. are larger than those in Lebanon.
Izadi’s comments have drawn criticism, particularly from experts on Iran who point out the irony of the Iranian regime’s praise for American student activists while it continues to suppress dissent within its own borders. Lisa Daftari, an Iran expert and editor-in-chief at Foreign Desk, criticized the Iranian regime for its harsh treatment of Iranian students while attempting to co-opt American protests for its own political purposes.
Daftari highlighted the Iranian regime’s historical strategy of expanding its influence through both direct action and propaganda, suggesting that the regime aims to leverage the momentum from these protests to enhance its strategic objectives in the West. This approach raises concerns about whether Iran’s influence might extend to encouraging physical or cyber attacks in Western contexts, particularly as tensions remain high over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for militant groups across the Middle East.
These revelations underscore the complex dynamics of international relations as they play out on university campuses, where global political issues often intersect with local activism. The reactions to Izadi’s comments reflect broader concerns about the influence of foreign states on American soil, particularly through ideological channels in educational institutions.