Daughter of Sanctioned Iranian Regime Official Expelled from U.S. After Green Card Revoked

Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of a powerful Iranian regime figure, was removed from the U.S. after public outcry over her academic position.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:06am

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A dimly lit, cinematic university lecture hall with empty desks and chairs, the warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and casting long shadows across the floor, conceptually representing the removal of an academic position tied to a hostile foreign regime.The revocation of an academic position held by the daughter of a sanctioned Iranian regime official exposes vulnerabilities in the U.S. immigration system.Atlanta Today

Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of one of Iran's most powerful regime figures, has left the United States and has been barred from reentering the country. Her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, is also gone. Both were removed as part of a federal crackdown on individuals linked to anti-American regimes. The federal government revoked the couple's legal status earlier this month after public outcry over Larijani's academic position at Emory University in Atlanta.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns over how individuals with ties to hostile foreign regimes can obtain legal status and positions of influence in the U.S., raising national security risks. The fact that Larijani, the daughter of a sanctioned Iranian official, was able to obtain a green card and work at a prestigious American university for years before being expelled suggests potential gaps in the U.S. immigration vetting process.

The details

Dr. Larijani reportedly received legal status with a green card in 2021 under the Biden administration and went on to hold a position as an assistant professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father, Ali Larijani, served as secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and was considered a close confidant of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Ali Larijani in January 2023 for inciting violence against the Iranian people. Public outrage over Larijani's academic position in the U.S. led to her removal from Emory in January 2026, followed by the federal government revoking her and her husband's legal status weeks later.

  • In January 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Ali Larijani, Dr. Larijani's father.
  • In January 2026, Emory University removed Dr. Larijani from her position after public protests.
  • In February 2026, the federal government revoked Dr. Larijani and her husband's legal status, leading to their expulsion from the U.S.

The players

Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani

The daughter of one of Iran's most powerful regime figures, Ali Larijani, who held a position as an assistant professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia before being expelled from the U.S.

Ali Larijani

One of Iran's most powerful regime figures, who served as secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for inciting violence against the Iranian people.

Seyed Kalantar Motamedi

The husband of Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, who was also expelled from the U.S. along with his wife.

Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)

The Georgia congressman who wrote to Emory University and the Georgia Medical Board demanding that Dr. Larijani be fired and stripped of her medical license.

Emory University

The prestigious Atlanta university where Dr. Larijani held a faculty position before being removed in January 2026.

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What’s next

The federal government will likely continue to scrutinize other cases of individuals with ties to hostile foreign regimes who have obtained legal status in the U.S., in an effort to identify and remove potential national security risks.

The takeaway

This case highlights significant gaps in the U.S. immigration vetting process, allowing the daughter of a sanctioned Iranian regime official to obtain a green card and an academic position in the country. The public outcry and subsequent removal of Dr. Larijani demonstrates the need for more rigorous screening of applicants with connections to hostile foreign governments.