Open Letter from American University Professors to Joe Biden: To Stabilize the Region, 'The Head of the Serpent' Must Be Struck in Tehran

Hundreds of professors from universities across the United States have issued an open letter, highlighting the escalating crisis in the Middle East, and firmly urging President Joe Biden to pay attention to the critical importance of formulating a 'correct policy' towards the Islamic Republic. The letter, signed by 4,400 professors and faculty members, emphasizes that the real power to strike the 'head of the serpent' in Tehran and establish a just and lasting peace in the Middle East lies with the people of Iran. The signatories state, 'Since 2018, Iran has witnessed a series of nationwide uprisings, each more determined and enduring than the previous ones. These uprisings testify to the unwavering spirit of Iranians who have rejected the theocratic regime and remind us of their aspiration for self-determination; actions that echo the loud desire for a future free from any form of tyranny and for a free and democratic Iran.' They point out that the Middle East is at a turning point, and current policies, in their view, are 'the only obstacle to the aspirations of the Iranian people,' stating, 'At this critical juncture, the United States must stand with (the people of Iran) and adopt an unwavering policy decisively against the mullahs.' The university professors further emphasize, 'The time has come for us to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in their efforts to eradicate this scourge of conflict and repression.' These professors and faculty members had previously emphasized the right of the Iranian people to defend themselves in a similar letter in 2022, and they have reiterated this point. The signatories assert that the world must recognize the Iranian people's right 'to defend themselves against the terrorist Revolutionary Guard and their legitimate aspiration to establish a democratic and secular republic accountable to its people,' which they believe has become 'a strategic necessity' for the region and the world. These academic figures, which include American Nobel laureates, Templeton Prize winners, members of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and recipients of numerous prestigious awards, have also condemned the Islamic Republic's decades-long tactic of using violence to consolidate its influence in the region and promote a toxic ideology throughout the Middle East.