ATLANTA (Diya TV) — Emory University has quietly removed Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of a senior Iranian official, from her position at the Winship Cancer Institute following weeks of public protests and political pressure. University officials confirmed Sunday that Ardeshir-Larijani, an assistant professor in hematology and medical oncology, is no longer employed at the Atlanta-based school, citing the matter as personnel-related.
The move came amid growing outrage over Ardeshir-Larijani’s ties to her father, Ali Larijani, who serves as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Larijani, citing his role in coordinating Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests that began in late December. Critics argued that having the daughter of a sanctioned regime official working in the U.S. posed national security risks.
The controversy escalated after nearly 100,000 people signed an online petition demanding her removal, and protesters rallied outside the Winship Cancer Institute on January 19, carrying signs that read, “Did you know Iran terror chief’s daughter is your co-worker?”. Republican Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga.) sent a letter to Emory and the Georgia Medical Board urging the university to terminate Ardeshir-Larijani and strip her medical license. “Her ties to the largest state sponsor of terrorism are unacceptable and serve only to erode patient safety, public trust, and national security,” Carter wrote.
Ardeshir-Larijani, a U.S.-trained hematologist-oncologist, reportedly obtained a green card in 2021 during the Biden administration. While living and working in Atlanta, she conducted research in developmental therapeutics and treated patients at Emory Healthcare. Critics framed her employment as a moral and security concern, given her father’s vocal opposition to the U.S. and his calls for forceful suppression of protesters in Iran. In posts on social media, Ali Larijani warned against U.S. intervention in Iran, saying it could destabilize the region and harm American interests.
The university maintained that its hiring process complied with federal law but later removed Ardeshir-Larijani’s faculty page and Emory Healthcare profile from its websites. Officials declined to comment further, citing the personnel nature of the matter. Advocacy groups, including the Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA), hailed her removal as a victory for activists who had called for scrutiny of Iranian officials’ relatives working in the U.S.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Following the protests in Tehran and violent crackdowns, former President Donald Trump warned in January that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” to intervene should the Iranian regime kill peaceful demonstrators. Meanwhile, the Biden administration said it is reviewing the immigration status of Iranians who gained residency or employment under federal programs.
Observers note that Ardeshir-Larijani’s removal underscores broader concerns about national security, ethics, and accountability in U.S. institutions when dealing with affiliates of foreign governments under sanction. “Physicians are entrusted with intimate access to patients, sensitive personal information, and critical medical decision-making,” Rep. Carter wrote. “Providing Dr. Ardeshir-Larijani with such access while her father advocates for violence against the United States was a reckless failure of judgment”.
