More than 70 professors from Sharif University of Technology have written a letter to the President of Iran, urging the government to refrain from reacting to the temporary travel ban issued by the United States and to facilitate visa issuance for American citizens. The prominent Iranian academics stated in their letter that they describe the actions against American citizens as 'unjust discrimination' and requested that 'we, the undersigned faculty members of Sharif University of Technology, who constitute a small part of the Iranian academic community, ask our government to respond differently to this wrongful act this time.' They added that in response to the three-month temporary travel ban from the U.S., Iran should issue two-week visas to American citizens at the country's airports within the next 90 days. According to the Sharif University professors, this would allow U.S. citizens to 'experience the hospitality of Iranians and peace-loving Muslims up close.' Concurrently with the letter from the Sharif professors, the Iranian Wrestling Federation has also urged the government to reconsider the potential non-issuance of visas for American athletes and to enable the participation of the U.S. national freestyle wrestling team in the 2017 competitions hosted by Iran. Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspended visa issuance for citizens of seven countries, including Iran, for at least three months. This order has faced backlash from some academic communities and researchers in the United States, including Harvard University researchers who stated that the temporary ban prevents some of the best scholars from Iran from joining their research community. Harvard professors emphasized that their university has always been a center for education and attracting the best talent from around the world. Trump has repeatedly defended his order, stating that its purpose is to protect American citizens and territory from potential threats and to initiate a 'very strict vetting process' for visa applicants.
Sharif University Professors Call for Easing Visa Issuance for American Citizens
Over 70 professors from Sharif University have called on the Iranian government to ease visa restrictions for American citizens in response to a U.S. travel ban. They argue that this would allow Americans to experience Iranian hospitality and counter unjust discrimination. This matter highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and the U.S. and the impact of political decisions on academic collaboration.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Over 70 professors from Sharif University have urged the Iranian government to ease visa restrictions for American citizens in response to a U.S. travel ban. They argue that facilitating travel would counter discrimination and promote cultural exchange.
- The U.S. travel ban affects citizens from seven countries, including Iran.
- The professors propose issuing two-week visas to American citizens at Iranian airports.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. travel ban has created significant barriers for Iranian citizens, particularly in academia, affecting collaboration and research opportunities. The Iranian government has historically maintained a cautious stance towards U.S. relations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%