TERROR TIES in Ivy League Classroom?!
Senator Ted Cruz has ignited a political firestorm, calling for the immediate deportation of a former Iranian regime official now teaching at Princeton University, accusing him of deep ties to terrorism and anti-American ideology.
At a Glance
Senator Ted Cruz calls for deportation of Princeton professor Seyed Hossein Mousavian
Mousavian, a former Iranian ambassador, is accused of ties to terrorism and anti-American propaganda
Princeton faces backlash for hiring him amid rising campus antisemitism
House Republicans are investigating whether the university properly vetted him
Cruz’s Explosive Allegations
Texas Senator Ted Cruz is demanding that Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian ambassador and regime insider, be deported from the U.S., citing his history with what Cruz calls a “terrorist government.” Mousavian currently serves as a Middle East security analyst at Princeton University, a position Cruz and others believe is an outrageous affront to national security. As reported by Fox News, Cruz rejected a debate invitation from Mousavian with a blistering statement: “Your books are unreadable, and the only debate you should be having is with DHS agents, at the end of which you should be deported.”
Mousavian’s background includes serving as Iran’s ambassador to Germany during the time of the 1992 Mykonos restaurant assassinations in Berlin, where four Iranian dissidents were killed. Although Mousavian denies involvement, former Iranian intelligence officer Abolghasem Mesbahi testified that he “participated in most of the [Iranian regime’s] crimes that took place in Europe,” according to Fox News.
Watch Fox News’ report on the incident at Cruz escalates feud with ex-Iranian official working at Princeton: ‘You should be deported’.
Congressional Scrutiny and Princeton’s Silence
In the face of growing controversy, Princeton University has remained largely silent. Former president Shirley Tilghman has declined to comment, while current president Christopher Eisgruber has not addressed whether Mousavian was properly vetted. According to Fox News, Cruz blasted the university for “reckless institutional ideological bias” and warned that the Trump administration may reconsider federal funding to Princeton over the matter.
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce is now investigating Mousavian’s academic role, probing potential ties to Tehran and whether foreign entities have influenced his position. Lawmakers are also questioning if his presence on campus contributes to a hostile environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students, an issue exacerbated by recent antisemitism concerns.
Mousavian’s Defense and the Broader Debate
Mousavian has defended his academic career and invited Cruz to review his work or engage in a public debate. In a letter cited by Fox News, he wrote, “If you do not accept this offer, I ask you to read some of the books and articles I have written over my 15 years of academic work at Princeton University.”
But for Cruz and many of his supporters, that’s not enough. The senator argues that no amount of academic posturing can erase Mousavian’s track record of supporting anti-American regimes and terrorist organizations. Public backlash continues to grow, with critics pointing to Mousavian’s praise of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and his refusal to condemn the fatwa against author Salman Rushdie as further proof that he has no place in U.S. academia.
This episode has sparked broader questions about freedom of expression, national security, and the responsibilities of elite institutions. As investigations deepen, Princeton’s leadership—and its hiring choices—are under a national spotlight.