Universities hit in war, Iran says 'true objective' exposed

Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran, has accused the United States and Israel of deliberately striking Iranian universities and research centres amid the ongoing conflict.

In a statement on X, he said institutions such as Isfahan University of Technology and Iran University of Science and Technology were among those targeted over the past month. Baqaei claimed the attacks were intended to “cripple our country’s scientific foundation and cultural heritage,” dismissing allegations about Iran’s nuclear programme as “vicious pretexts” and “mere fabrications.”

“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 centers, historical monuments, and prominent scientists,” he posted.

In a separate statement, Elyas Hazrati, head of the Government Information Council, also accused what he called “aggressors” of targeting Iran’s future by striking universities and educational institutions, including students and schoolchildren. In his post on X, he said the attacks also sought to damage Iran’s present through destruction of infrastructure and its past by targeting historical and cultural heritage, adding that Iran’s response would remain “steadfast and unbreakable.”

“Today, they attack Iran’s present by destroying the walls of our cities and the infrastructure of people’s lives, and they target Iran’s past by violating the civilisational heritage and historical monuments of this land.” he posted.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned it could retaliate by targeting universities linked to the United States or Israel in the region. Iranian state television, cited by Reuters, said the Guards described such institutions as “legitimate targets” following reported strikes on Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

The IRGC’s warning marks a significant escalation, raising concerns that academic institutions could become part of the expanding conflict, as tensions intensify between Iran, the United States and Israel.

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