UANI Statement on Departure of Hossein Mousavian from Princeton University

United Against Nuclear Iran CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following statement today on the departure of Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian regime ambassador to Germany, from Princeton University:

“UANI is pleased to see that Hossein Mousavian, the former Iranian regime ambassador to Germany, has left Princeton after 15 years. Although the official reason was that Mousavian ‘retired’ from his position, his departure comes as the Trump administration scrutinizes universities which are employing individuals acting contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United States.

“UANI has long called for Princeton to sever ties with Mousavian. UANI urged the Trump administration in April to condition the restoration of Princeton’s federal research grant funding on the removal of Mousavian. In 2022, UANI sent a public letter to Princeton’s president and trustees, outlining our concerns about his background and calling on them to remove him. Amid this mounting public scrutiny, Mousavian quietly retired.

“Mousavian never should have worked at Princeton, much less have been admitted into the United States. He presided over the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Germany at a time when the regime assassinated multiple Iranian dissidents on European soil. The embassy itself was an organizational hub for these plots. Remarkably, in 2016, then foreign minister Javad Zarif openly declared that, despite living in the United States, Mousavian is “completely tied to the Islamic Republic” and “continues to work hard for the regime.” It is totally unacceptable for an Iranian regime affiliate to be residing in the United States, not least at a time when the regime is proactively seeking to assassinate President Trump. Having left his role at Princeton, the U.S. government should now deport Mousavian without hesitation. 

“Questions remain as to why Mousavian was able to work at Princeton for so long, all while Iran’s regime admitted he was working to further its interests throughout years of its hostage taking of Americans and attempted assassinations and kidnappings of U.S. citizens on American soil. There also needs to be scrutiny on any U.S.-based foundations funding him in what was an apparent influence operation by a state sponsor of terrorism in the United States.”