Iran Accuses US, Israel of Targeting Universities; IRGC Issues Retaliatory Warning

Tehran, March 2026 : Iran on Sunday accused the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting its academic institutions, alleging that recent strikes on major universities were part of a broader strategy to weaken the nation’s scientific and cultural foundations amid escalating tensions.

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, attacks on institutions such as Isfahan University of Technology and Iran University of Science and Technology were not linked to nuclear concerns, as claimed by Western powers, but were instead aimed at undermining the country’s intellectual infrastructure.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei strongly rejected assertions that the strikes were connected to Iran’s nuclear programme. In a post on the social media platform X, Baqaei described such claims as a “cover for wider aggression” against the Iranian nation.

“Isfahan University of Technology and the University of Science and Technology in Tehran are just two among many universities and research centres deliberately attacked by the aggressors during the past 30 days of their illegal war on the Iranian nation,” he stated.

Baqaei further alleged that the attacks were part of a systematic campaign designed to dismantle Iran’s scientific progress and cultural heritage. He argued that the narrative of countering Iran’s nuclear threat was a fabricated pretext used to justify broader military actions.

“In fact, the American-Israeli aggression against Iran continues to reveal its true objective: to cripple our country’s scientific foundation and cultural heritage by systematically targeting universities, research centres, historical monuments, and prominent scientists,” he said, adding that the nuclear issue was merely a “vicious pretext.”

Following these accusations, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a strong warning, escalating the rhetoric and raising concerns about further regional instability. The IRGC suggested that universities linked to the United States and Israel across West Asia could be considered legitimate targets in retaliation for the alleged attacks on Iranian institutions.

In a statement broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) via Telegram, the IRGC condemned what it described as repeated bombardments of Iranian academic centres, including the University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

“The American-Zionist aggressor forces have targeted Iranian universities for the umpteenth time,” the statement said, reiterating claims of deliberate and repeated strikes.

The IRGC warning went further, cautioning that if the alleged attacks continue, retaliatory measures could extend to educational institutions associated with the US and Israel in the broader West Asian region. The statement also included an advisory urging individuals near such campuses to maintain distance for their safety.

“The reckless rulers of the White House should know that all the universities of the occupying regime and American universities in the West Asian region are our legitimate targets,” the statement warned, adding that staff, faculty, students, and nearby residents should exercise caution.

The developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions, with academic institutions now emerging as a focal point in the ongoing conflict narrative. The allegations and counter-warnings have heightened fears of a widening confrontation, particularly as both sides trade accusations over intent and legitimacy in an already volatile geopolitical landscape.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)