A recent report from George Washington University’s Program on Extremism has shed light on an extensive network of Iranian influence across the United States, raising concerns about Tehran’s reach into American Muslim communities.
MEF has previously touched on this subject, most recently regarding Shiites promoting Hezbollah talking points and U.S. taxpayers funding an anti-American mosque in Michigan. The GWU report now provides an in-depth and comprehensive overview.
Key hubs for Iranian regime activity include cities like Houston, New York and Dearborn, Michigan, where institutions promote anti-U.S. sentiments and glorify the Iranian regime. Dearborn has one of the largest Muslim populations per capita, including the highest concentration of Lebanese Shia residents in the country. This unique demographic makeup has made the area a focal point for Iranian soft power projection. The report identifies several Islamic centers in Dearborn that disseminate pro-Iranian regime ideology.
Key Islamic Centers Under Scrutiny Include:
Islamic Center of America (ICofA), Michigan: The ICofA is North America’s largest mosque. While initially established to serve the local Muslim community, it has shown increasing alignment with Iranian interests.
- Former leader Mohammed Jawad Chirri expressed support for the Iranian Revolution and Hezbollah.
- In 2020, Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni gave a devotional speech about deceased IRGC-QF General Soleimani.
- The center organized a memorial for a Hezbollah terrorist who was killed.
The Muslim Student Association—Persian-Speaking Group (MSA-PSG), North America:
A 1994 FBI report on Hezbollah’s U.S. activities noted that the organization maintains contact with the Anjoman Islamic, an Iranian student association in the U.S. In a 1998 Senate testimony, Dale Watson, then Chief of the FBI’s International Terrorism Section, described MSA-PSG as a “pro-Iranian student organization” primarily composed of anti-American Iranian Shiite Muslims. The report notes that “30 MSA-PSG members had traveled to Iran to meet with regime officials to discuss how to counter their opponents in America,” suggesting organized efforts to undermine dissent against the Iranian government from within the U.S.
Islamic Institute of Knowledge (IIofK) Dearborn, Michigan: Founded by Abdel Latif Berry, a disciple of Hezbollah’s spiritual mentor Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, the IIofK has displayed clear pro-Iranian leanings:
- A portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini once presided over its main meeting room.
- The institute publicly mourned the death of Hezbollah’s spiritual leader Fadlallah.
- Recent statements from IIofK leaders have echoed Iranian regime rhetoric regarding Israel, including comparing Israel to the Nazis and blaming it for October 7.
Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW), Dearborn, Michigan: Led by Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, the IHW has strong ties to the Iranian regime:
- Elahi reportedly served as head of the Iranian Navy’s political-ideological office in 1982.
- He regularly publishes photos with high-level Iranian politicians and religious leaders.
- Elahi is the only identifiable American member of the Ahlul Bayt World Assembly (ABWA), a key Iranian soft power entity.
Islamic Institute of America (IIofA), Dearborn, Michigan: Founded by Hassan Qazwini, a graduate of the Islamic Seminary in Qom, Iran, the IIofA represents a more subtle but still significant Iranian connection:
- Qazwini is married to the daughter of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad al-Shirazi, an important figure in the early years of the Islamic Republic.
- His father, Ayatollah Morteza Qazwini, is a distinguished pro-Iranian cleric with ties to ABWA.
Iranian Soft Power Strategy
The report highlights the role of the ABWA in Iran’s efforts to extend its influence. ABWA organizes trips for U.S. academics to meet with high-ranking officials and receive training in Qom, Iran. The organization’s news aggregator regularly covers activities of the Dearborn centers mentioned in the report.
Implications for U.S. National Security
U.S. authorities have emphasized that Iran often uses individuals already in the United States for surveillance and planning potential attacks. This strategy extends to Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy, which has shown interest in long-term operations within the U.S. through intelligence gathering and resource acquisition efforts by affiliated individuals. These activities underscore Iran’s ongoing attempts to establish a presence and conduct covert operations within American borders.
Accompanying the report was context for its importance: “Given the heightened geopolitical tensions that have followed the October 7, 2023 attacks and Iran’s unrelenting commitment to highly adversarial positions toward the United States, an in-depth understanding of its networks inside the U.S., and throughout the Western Hemisphere is of paramount importance. This required awareness applies not just to actors who are directly engaged in violent actions but also to procurement and propaganda networks; as they not only serve useful roles for Tehran in and of itself but can also potentially be utilized to support or carry out attacks.”
Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) said that Iran’s evil ideology and malign influence have “no place here ... We need an administration that has the backbone to reject Iran’s propaganda that undermines America and espouses antisemitic views. America must stand up to terrorists, not cower to the ayatollah at every turn.”
Further research is still needed. Further research is required on Iranian state-affiliated media outlets operating within U.S, Shia Islamist aid charities, as well as grant-making foundations that may have ties to regime. Additionally, more in-depth analysis is required to assess the impact of Iran’s soft power strategies on academic institutions, think-tanks, and policy circles. Such research would provide valuable insights into regime efforts shape narratives influence public opinion ultimately informing effective countermeasures policy responses to Iran’s covert activities on American soil.
You can find the George Washington University Report here: Full Report (gwu.edu)
