Kylie Moore-Gilbert calls out Australian National University amid fears Iran is targeting ‘soft’ institutions to spread its influence overseas

An Australian academic previously imprisoned in Iran under false espionage claims has unleashed on the continued collaboration between Australian academics and the Middle Eastern regime.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert said universities were the ‘soft underbelly’ that Iran was using to exert foreign influence in a tweet over the weekend.

She highlighted one particular journal article – which she said was ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ – by Australian National University (ANU) employee Farid Rahimi, jointly penned by ex-Iranian strategic affairs vice-president Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The article, ‘Reviving Iran’s Science Diplomacy: New Horizons Opened by President Pezeshkian’, was published in early 2025 and featured in an Iranian state academic journal. It called for Western governments to ‘reduce sanction pressures’ on Tehran.

‘This paper was put out under an ANU byline and indexed in ANU’s own ‘research output’ portal,’ Dr Moore-Gilbert said.

‘This seems to be an example of soft power foreign influence par excellence. Both ANU and the 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, not coincidentally, advances Tehran’s agenda on sanctions under the guise of scholarly research?’

In a similar recent incident, Tim Anderson appeared in an Iranian propaganda video earlier this year, The political economist was fired from Sydney University in early 2019 after sharing a photo of an Israeli flag with Nazi symbols. 

In the video he praised Iran’s ‘control’ over the Strait of Hormuz and dismissed claims the regime had closed the waterway – through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes. 

‘The Strait is not closed, it has a new regulatory regime,’ Dr Anderson said in the clip, which was aired on Iranian state TV.

‘Even the shipping finance … shipping insurance companies have accepted this regulation.’ 

Dr Moore-Gilbert, who spent two years imprisoned in Iran before being freed in a prisoner swap in 2020, warned the incidents were just scratching the surface of Iran’s efforts to promote its agenda.  

‘As any academic who touches on Iran will tell you, this sort of thing is just the tip of the iceberg,’ she said.

‘Universities are the soft underbelly, and continuing to do nothing about foreign interference and transnational repression is no longer an option.’

The University of Sydney, in a separate incident, came under fire in May and June 2024 when pro-Palestine rallies were reportedly infiltrated by the extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has since been listed as a prohibited hate group.

The vice-chancellor was heavily criticised for not shutting down the encampments because the group was, at that point, not prohibited though highly controversial. 

Meanwhile, University of New South Wales pro vice-chancellor research Dane McCamey sent an email to staff, seen by SBS, warning against collaboration with researchers from Iran, Russia, Belarus and North Korea.

‘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,’ he said. 

‘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, whether intentional or not, that contravene existing sanctions applicable to these countries or are otherwise contrary to the expectations of the Australian government.

‘This now means that any activity with individuals or entities in these countries is not permitted without prior approval from your Dean or the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research.’

McCamey added researchers who ignored the instruction could face ‘serious consequences’, including criminal charges for breaching sanctions.

A spokesperson for the Group of Eight, which includes ANU, said its universities would review to ensure its articles comply with regulations.

‘Universities have been asked to investigate institution-to-institution relationships, and the universities are doing their due diligence,’ they told SBS.

‘The Group of Eight absolutely committed to national security and protecting that which must be protected, and will continue to work closely with the government.’

ANU told Daily Mail it is also investigating apparent collaboration with Iranian officials.

‘The Australian National University has been made aware of these allegations for the first time through a media enquiry last week and takes such concerns seriously,’ they said.

‘As a point of clarification, 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.

‘It would not be appropriate to comment further on specific allegations relating to individual staff members.

‘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 spokesperson added there is ‘no basis for the suggestion that ANU lobbied on behalf of the foreign government’.

Daily Mail has contacted Farid Rahimi for comment.