Children of Iran’s regime leaders are educating America’s students at colleges from New York to Los Angeles
https://nypost.com/2026/03/18/world-news/children-of-iran-regime-leaders-teaching-at-elite-us-universities/

Photo by NYPost

This petition respectfully calls upon the appropriate authorities of the United States, including the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, to initiate a formal and transparent review of the immigration status and institutional vetting processes related to Zeinab Hajjarian, a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

I. Context and Publicly Available Background
Zeinab Hajjarian is reported to be the daughter of Saeed Hajjarian, a former senior official associated with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS).

According to reporting by NBC News, Saeed Hajjarian was among individuals associated with the group known as the “Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line,” which carried out the 1979 seizure of the United States Embassy in Tehran and held American diplomats hostage for 444 days. He later played a role in the development of Iran’s intelligence infrastructure and held a senior position within MOIS. The Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) has been designated by the United States government in connection with activities involving human rights abuses and support for terrorism.

While Saeed Hajjarian’s later political trajectory included reform-oriented positions, this historical and institutional background contributes to public interest in ensuring transparency and due diligence in related cases.

II. Areas Requiring Clarification
This petition does not assert wrongdoing by Zeinab Hajjarian. Rather, it respectfully requests that relevant authorities review the following:

• Disclosure and Compliance
  Whether all relevant background information, including familial affiliations that may be pertinent under U.S. immigration and security frameworks, was fully and accurately disclosed.
• Immigration Eligibility Review
  Whether current immigration status remains fully consistent with applicable provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Institutional Vetting
  Whether appropriate vetting procedures were followed in granting access to academic, research, and laboratory environments.
• Research and Technology Context
  Zeinab Hajjarian is engaged in biomedical engineering, an area associated with advanced research and innovation.

This petition requests confirmation that:

• All applicable safeguards are in place
• Standard compliance protocols are being followed
• No sensitive or restricted technologies are being accessed outside established regulatory frameworks

III. Requests for Review and Action
In light of the above, we respectfully call for:

1. A formal review of immigration and residency status under applicable U.S. laws
2. Verification of disclosure accuracy and completeness
3. Confirmation of adherence to institutional vetting and compliance standards
4. A general assessment, as deemed appropriate by relevant authorities

IV. Purpose of This Petition
This petition is submitted in support of:

• Transparency
• Due diligence
• Public confidence in institutional and immigration systems
• It does not seek to prejudge or assign guilt. Rather, it calls for a fair, objective, and fact-based review consistent with established legal standards and due process.

In matters involving national security considerations, institutional integrity, and public trust, it is appropriate to ensure that all relevant processes have been followed with transparency and accuracy. We respectfully urge the appropriate authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial review in accordance with established laws and procedures.