Context:

Senator Ted Cruz has called for Princeton University to dismiss Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian regime official, due to concerns over student safety amidst rising antisemitism on campus. Mousavian, currently a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist at the university, has been linked to the Iranian regime's terrorist activities and has shown support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. His presence at Princeton has been criticized by students and experts who fear his influence and question his academic credentials. The university, led by President Christopher Eisgruber, faces scrutiny for maintaining Mousavian's employment, which some perceive as prioritizing ideological bias over student welfare. Efforts to investigate Mousavian's alleged crimes and verify his academic qualifications have faced obstacles, including difficulties in obtaining his Ph.D. dissertation from the University of Kent.

Dive Deeper:

• Senator Ted Cruz has urged Princeton University to dismiss Seyed Hossein Mousavian, accusing him of making students feel unsafe due to his past affiliations with the Iranian regime and support for terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

• Mousavian, a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist at Princeton, has faced criticism for his alleged involvement in Iranian state-sponsored terrorism and his public support for figures like Qassem Soleimani, a known terrorist leader eliminated by a U.S. drone strike.

• Princeton's continued employment of Mousavian has led to accusations of the university prioritizing pro-regime propaganda and anti-American sentiments over student safety, prompting a reassessment of federal funding by the Trump administration.

• Questions have arisen regarding Mousavian's academic credentials, as neither Princeton University nor the University of Kent, where he purportedly earned his Ph.D., have been able to produce his dissertation, casting doubt on his qualifications.

• Concerns about antisemitism have been heightened by incidents on campus, including disruptions by anti-Israel protesters during a talk by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, to which Princeton's President Eisgruber has responded with promises of investigation but no clear disciplinary actions.

• Critics, including Rabbi Abraham Cooper, have questioned Princeton's protection of Mousavian amid rising antisemitism, urging the university to address the allegations against him and the broader issue of antisemitism on campus.

• Despite calls for accountability and transparency, Princeton has not obstructed law enforcement investigations into Mousavian, though efforts to scrutinize his academic and professional history continue to face resistance.