Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian academic detained in Iran for two years on espionage charges before a 2020 prisoner swap, criticizes collaborations between Australian scholars and Iranian officials. She labels universities as the ‘soft underbelly’ Iran exploits to extend its influence abroad.
Iranian Ties at Australian National University
Moore-Gilbert spotlights a journal article co-authored by Australian National University (ANU) staffer Farid Rahimi and former Iranian strategic affairs vice-president Mohammad Javad Zarif. Titled ‘Reviving Iran’s Science Diplomacy: New Horizons Opened by President Pezeshkian,’ the piece appeared in an Iranian state academic journal in early 2025. It urges Western governments to ease sanction pressures on Tehran.
‘This paper was put out under an ANU byline and indexed in ANU’s own research output portal,’ Moore-Gilbert states. ‘This seems to be an example of soft power foreign influence par excellence. Both ANU and Australian security agencies must investigate the academic concerned. How does he have access to the former Iranian foreign minister? How was it that they came to co-author an article together which advances Tehran’s agenda on sanctions under the guise of scholarly research?’
She warns these incidents represent ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ in Iran’s push to advance its agenda through academia. ‘Universities are the soft underbelly, and continuing to do nothing about foreign interference and transnational repression is no longer an option,’ Moore-Gilbert adds.
Other Cases of Potential Influence
Political economist Tim Anderson, dismissed from the University of Sydney in 2019 after posting an image of an Israeli flag altered with Nazi symbols, featured in an Iranian state TV propaganda video this year. He praised Iran’s ‘control’ over the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil flows, and rejected claims of its closure.
‘The Strait is not closed, it has a new regulatory regime,’ Anderson declares in the video. ‘Even the shipping finance and shipping insurance companies have accepted this regulation.’
The University of Sydney faced scrutiny in May and June 2024 when pro-Palestine rallies reportedly involved members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, later designated a prohibited hate group. Critics targeted the vice-chancellor for not disbanding the encampments sooner.
University Responses and Warnings
University of New South Wales Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Dane McCamey issued an email to staff, stressing caution in collaborations with researchers from Iran, Russia, Belarus, and North Korea amid evolving geopolitics.
‘In response to the rapidly evolving geopolitical climate, the Australian government has increased expectations on universities to exercise greater caution and oversight in relation to international collaborations,’ McCamey writes. ‘It is critical that UNSW is aware of all engagement with individuals or entities in Iran, Russia, Belarus or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to prevent activities that contravene existing sanctions or Australian government expectations. Any activity with these countries requires prior approval from your Dean or the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research.’
He warns of ‘serious consequences,’ including criminal charges, for non-compliance.
A Group of Eight spokesperson, representing universities including ANU, affirms commitment to national security. ‘Universities have been asked to investigate institution-to-institution relationships, and the universities are doing their due diligence,’ the spokesperson says. ‘The Group of Eight is absolutely committed to national security and protecting that which must be protected, and will continue to work closely with the government.’
ANU confirms it takes the allegations seriously after a recent media inquiry. ‘The individual named is a professional, non-academic member of staff and initial information suggests the allegations do not relate to the staff member’s role at the University,’ an ANU spokesperson states. ‘ANU acknowledges and is guided by statements from the Australian Government on matters relating to Iran, including the Prime Minister’s most recent statement, and works closely with relevant agencies, including DFAT, to assess and mitigate foreign interference risks.’ The university denies any lobbying on behalf of foreign governments.
