An Iranian studies professor from a prominent Ivy League institution has sharply criticized what he perceives as Israel’s involvement in escalating protests within Iran. These demonstrations have intensified, with the nation’s authoritarian government responding with force.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Columbia University’s Professor Hamid Dabashi expressed his concerns, stating, “The unrest you’re witnessing today is a result of Israeli instigation. Mossad agents are reportedly mingling with Iranian demonstrators on the streets of Tehran.”
Professor Dabashi’s remarks follow a social media post from former CIA director Mike Pompeo. In his post on X, Pompeo hinted at the presence of Mossad operatives among the protesters, suggesting a foreign influence in the ongoing turmoil.
In his post dated January 2, Pompeo commented, “The Iranian regime is faltering. Their reliance on mercenaries seems to be their last resort. With riots erupting in numerous cities and the Basij forces under attack in places like Mashhad, Tehran, and Zahedan, it’s a critical moment. Could Baluchistan be next? After 47 years of this regime, is there a connection with a potential 47th President? A Happy New Year to all Iranians in the streets, and to every Mossad agent walking alongside them…”
Adding to the controversy, Professor Dabashi noted, “In recent days, Israeli flags have appeared among the protesters in Tehran. This raises a significant question: What role does an Israeli flag play in these Iranian protests?”
“In addition, over the last few days we have seen Israeli flags in Tehran among the protesters,” said Dabashi. “What is the Israeli flag doing in Iran?”
“So, when we study — when we look at the events unfolding in Iran, we have to be very careful making a distinction between a legitimate protest of Iranians against their government because of the economic crisis, and the imbalance between [the] Rial and dollar, and illegitimate Israel-instigated protests for their own nefarious reasons.”
Dabashi finished by claiming that Israel is influencing the protests to “distract attention from the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, and the continued theft of Palestinian territories in the West Bank.
People gather during a protest on January 8, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. Demonstrations have been ongoing since December, triggered by soaring inflation and the collapse of the rial, and have expanded into broader demands for political change. (Anonymous/Getty Images)
“Professor Dabashi, like all members of the Columbia community, is entitled to express personal views, including those with which others may strongly disagree,” a university spokesman told Fox News Digital. “The opinions he has expressed are his own and do not represent Columbia.”
Dabashi did not return a request for comment.
Columbia has been dogged by accusations of antisemitism, and was home to some of the most virulent anti-Israel protests and encampments during the two-year war stemming from Hamas’ 2023 terrorist attack on Israeli concertgoers.
In July, President Donald Trump secured a $21 million settlement with the New York school specifically to settle claims of antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty after the Oct. 7, 2023. Overall, the school forked over a total of $221 million amid a flurry of other federal investigations.
People attend a vigil and protest for Palestine outside of Columbia University on October 7, 2025 in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
The school established an antisemitism task force to tackle the allegations, culminating in a December report.
“In the course of its work, the Task Force has heard of the isolation and pain many Jewish and Israeli Columbia affiliates have experienced in recent months,” the report said. “While mourning Hamas’s unspeakable atrocities on October 7, some Jewish and Israeli Columbia affiliates have been the object of racist epithets and graffiti, antisemitic tropes, and confrontational and unwelcome questions, while others have found their participation in some student groups that have nothing to do with politics to be increasingly uncomfortable.”
In a message announcing the release of the report, Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, said the school is balancing academic freedom of expression and preventing discrimination.
