“Inviting him and then turning around and alienating and insulting an entire nation, whose representative this man happens to be, is simply inappropriate,” the Associated Press quoted Dabashi as saying.

Meanwhile, the presidents of six leading Iranian universities wrote a letter to Bollinger, criticizing him for insulting the Iranian president.

“Your insult to the president of a country with a population of 72 million and 7000 years of civilization and culture in an academic milieu is shameful,” the letter said.

“Although it seems that you uttered those sentences, which were filled with hostile sentiments, under strong pressure from the media, what is regretful and surprising is the fact that the media’s owners and policymakers (were allowed to) determine the contents of the (introductory) speech of the president of a prestigious university.”