The Islamic Republic of Iran has long employed a layered and deliberate strategy to expand its global ideological influence. Central to this ambition is the state’s investment in Muslim students studying in the West. At first glance, these educational and cultural exchange initiatives may appear benign or even altruistic. However, upon deeper examination, they reveal a nuanced and strategic approach aimed at reshaping democratic discourse, countering Western hegemony, and sowing the ideological seeds of the Islamic Republic far beyond its borders. This initiative is not merely about exerting influence; it represents an enduring challenge to liberal democratic norms, using education as both a tool and a weapon.
Iran’s strategy originates in the foundational goals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which established not only a new political regime but also a revolutionary model to be exported across the Muslim world. Informed by Ayatollah Khomeini’s doctrine of Vilayat-e-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), the state’s core ideological tenet is that governance should be rooted in Islamic jurisprudence, led by a supreme religious authority. The revolutionary mission, therefore, is not confined to Iran’s borders. Rather, the regime has explicitly aimed to export its values, targeting Shia communities and sympathetic Sunni audiences globally through what has been described as “pattern-making”—offering a template of Islamic governance positioned in opposition to liberal democracy (Wikipedia, 2025).
While military and paramilitary extensions of Iranian influence (such as Hezbollah and the IRGC Quds Force) have received widespread attention, the more subtle strategy of educational diplomacy remains underexamined. Iran’s funding of scholarships and cultural programming for Muslim students in Europe, North America, and Australia serves as the vanguard of this ideological exportation. Students are not simply recipients of state generosity; they are seen as agents in a long-term plan to shift global perceptions of Iran and of Islam itself. Through institutions such as Al-Mustafa International University—which offers religious, academic, and ideological training to thousands of students from dozens of countries—Iran seeks to instill its own interpretations of Islam, anti-imperialist ideology, and a disdain for Western norms (Insight Turkey, 2017).
This engagement is driven in part by realpolitik. Iran’s geopolitical strategy rests on building what scholar Vali Nasr calls a “grand strategy of resistance” (Nasr, 2025). Facing economic sanctions, military encirclement, and deep-seated hostility from Sunni-majority neighbors like Saudi Arabia, Iran uses soft power as a means to level the playing field. By aligning with disaffected youth, particularly in Western societies where Muslims often feel marginalized, Iran positions itself as a champion of justice and dignity. This narrative resonates especially among students who are disillusioned with Western foreign policy, frustrated by systemic racism, or seeking spiritual identity. The ideological message is simple yet powerful: the West has failed you; Iran offers something more meaningful.
Through scholarships and programming supported by the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), Iran exports its values in the form of cultural festivals, religious events, conferences, and language institutes. These initiatives act as trojan horses—vehicles for ideological influence wrapped in the appearance of cultural diplomacy. The ICRO’s offices and affiliates exist not just in Iran-friendly countries but also in the heart of the West, operating with the outward purpose of promoting intercultural dialogue while often disseminating materials that subtly reinforce the Islamic Republic’s worldview (Time, 2024).
Equally significant is the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI), an organized campaign launched by Iran’s Foreign Ministry to embed sympathetic scholars within Western institutions. These individuals often occupy influential positions in academia, think tanks, and the media. Their function is not to serve as overt propagandists, but to steer public discourse subtly toward positions favorable to Tehran. Whether discussing Iran’s nuclear program, Middle Eastern geopolitics, or domestic protests, these voices provide a sophisticated veneer of legitimacy to narratives aligned with Iran’s foreign policy goals (Wikipedia, 2025).
Iran’s focus on students reflects a sophisticated understanding of psychology and human development. Young adults—particularly those studying abroad—are at a formative stage in their lives, grappling with questions of identity, purpose, and belonging. This makes them highly suggestible, and in many cases, eager for causes that give meaning to their experiences. Iran exploits this developmental window to shape not only political opinions but also lifelong ideological orientations. This is particularly effective when students are drawn into tight-knit communities funded or supported by the state, which provide a sense of belonging, mission, and validation.
Importantly, this strategy is not centered on orchestrating attacks against Western institutions in the conventional sense. Instead, the long-term objective is to undermine democratic values from within by shifting narratives, eroding trust in institutions, and promoting skepticism toward liberal norms. Iran’s ideological war is fought not with bullets but with books, conferences, scholarships, and subtle manipulation of public discourse. By encouraging students to adopt a worldview that is suspicious of Western intentions, favorable to authoritarian resistance, and aligned with the logic of “the oppressed versus the oppressor,” Iran undermines the liberal democratic project.
This ideological shift is facilitated and amplified by cyber operations. Iran has become adept at using digital tools to expand its influence beyond the physical classroom or conference hall. Social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and online forums are used to coordinate messaging, amplify student activism, and propagate narratives aligned with Iranian interests. During moments of political tension—such as the Israeli-Gaza conflicts or domestic unrest in Iran—digital campaigns often flood Western platforms with hashtags, viral content, and commentary designed to inflame divisions and project Iranian viewpoints into the global discourse (Time, 2024).
One of the most dangerous aspects of this strategy is its durability. Unlike military aggression or economic coercion, educational influence is slow, incremental, and resilient. Once a student has been ideologically shaped, they carry those views into their careers—as journalists, policymakers, academics, and community leaders. This cumulative effect creates a network of sympathizers who can subtly steer the discourse in ways that benefit Tehran, often without explicit coordination or funding. These alumni of Iranian ideological influence function as decentralized, embedded ambassadors of the regime’s worldview.
In terms of countermeasures, democratic societies face a complex dilemma. While it is essential to safeguard academic freedom and the right to cultural exchange, there is also a compelling need for transparency and accountability. Universities must require full disclosure of foreign funding sources, scholarship affiliations, and institutional partnerships. Policymakers should invest in tracking and understanding how scholarship recipients transition into public influence roles, especially if their activities align with foreign authoritarian narratives. At the same time, educators must work to build resilience among students—fostering critical thinking, civic responsibility, and media literacy that can inoculate against ideological manipulation.
Democracies must also be cautious not to overreact. Blanket bans or xenophobic rhetoric will only feed into the very narrative that Iran promotes: that the West is hypocritical and oppressive. A balanced, rights-respecting approach that combines transparency, regulation, and civic education is essential to preserve both freedom and security.
Ultimately, the Iranian regime’s funding of Muslim students in the West is not merely about promoting Shia Islam or defending national interests. It is a sophisticated, long-term strategy aimed at reshaping the global ideological order. By investing in education, culture, and identity formation, Iran plays a generational game that transcends borders and elections. It seeks not to destroy Western institutions through violence, but to erode their foundations through persuasion. The true battleground is the mind of the student, and in this theater, Iran’s weapons are words, narratives, and the slow but steady transformation of belief.
References
Insight Turkey. (2017). Iran’s educational diplomacy in the Muslim world: Activities of Al‑Mustafa International University in Malaysia and Afghanistan.
Nasr, V. (2025). Iran’s grand strategy: A political history. Financial Times.
Pattern‑making policy of the Islamic Republic. (2025, June). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern-making_policy_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran
Strategic culture of resistance: Iranian strategic influence in its near abroad. (2022). Journal of Advanced Military Studies, Marine Corps University Press.
The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution. (2025, June). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_of_exporting_the_Islamic_Revolution
Time Magazine. (2024, September 9). Iran’s futile but revealing attempts to influence U.S. campus protests. https://time.com/6313030/iran-campus-protests-fake-accounts/
Wikipedia. (2025, June). Iran Experts Initiative. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Experts_Initiative