An Iranian academic who fled the country after being harassed by security units at her university has warned that many Australian researchers are unaware of the level of state control over Iranian institutions. Rana Dadpour, now a researcher at James Cook University in Queensland, said she saw firsthand how intertwined Iranian universities are with the regime and its military.
Her warning comes after the Guardian revealed that more than 20 joint research papers involving Australian and Iranian academics have been published since April 2023, despite a government request to pause such collaborations. In a letter to over 30 university vice-chancellors, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged them to halt joint work with Iranian entities over human rights concerns.
Many collaborations are in areas considered low threat, such as cancer research and renewable energy. However, others involve critical technologies defined by the government as sensitive to national interest, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and drone research. The government has expressed concern that such research could be used to enhance military and surveillance technology in repressive regimes.
Daniel Roth of United Against Nuclear Iran said Iranian universities do not operate under the same principles of academic independence as in the West. He warned that academics are ultimately directed by the regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in specific research areas.
Dadpour said she faced harassment from security units at her university after becoming politically active. They questioned her about her work and teaching, complained about her clothes, and demanded she follow strict dress codes. When she refused to comply, her contract was not renewed, prompting her to leave the country.
There is a knowledge gap among Australian academics about the extent of restrictions in Iran, she said, because of a lack of information coming out of the country. The Australian parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security has recommended that universities exercise greater caution with international research partnerships in critical technologies.
