A Sharif University Official: We Don't Have Money for a Lawyer to Remove the University from Sanctions

The director of research affairs at Sharif University of Technology emphasized the negative impact of sanctions on the university's global ranking, stating, "We don't have money for a lawyer to remove the university from sanctions." Mohammad Reza Hormizi Nejad announced on Tuesday, November 7, that the university's ranking in the Times Higher Education ranking has not changed this year, and expressed satisfaction with this situation given the circumstances. He described the stability of scientific growth at Sharif University as satisfactory despite financial conditions, budget issues, and professors taking unpaid leave or emigrating. He noted that many "very distinguished" professors have emigrated from the university, stating, "Foreign countries do not hire second or third-tier professors; they seek to hire elites." The university has been on the EU sanctions list for several years due to what is termed as "assisting Iran's suspicious nuclear program." Although the European Court ruled in 2014 that the sanctions against Sharif University lacked sufficient evidence, the EU re-sanctioned the university a few months later. The university is also under sanctions from Canada and the UK. Governments worldwide have recently initiated efforts to block or prevent international academic collaboration that may assist in advancing Iran's military programs. The EU sanctions against Sharif and Beheshti universities "continue to this day." The Canadian government imposed new restrictions on research funding last year aimed at preventing the sharing of technologies deemed important for Canada's national security. Drones were listed among sensitive technologies, and Sharif University is among the institutions that the Canadian government believes poses risks to its national security. Iranian-made drones have been widely used in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the past two years, with Kyiv frequently displaying remnants of Iranian drones after Russian attacks. The Islamic Republic claims it has no involvement in sending drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.