Strikes on an Iranian university and threats to hit others

This is a quick note on one aspect of the Iran war’s impact on academia.  It’s a brief post because I’m traveling for work this weekend. The usual caveats about trying to understand a fast-moving situation obscured by layers of fog of war, censorship, bias, etc. apply:

It seems that an Israeli strike hit the Iran University of Science and Technology (دانشگاه علم و صنعت ایران,) in Tehran.  It’s not clear if American forces played a role. It’s also not clear what damage or casualties resulted.  Here’s one X/Twitter post claiming to show some impact:

An Iranian legal academic, Helyeh Doutaghi, posted photos and a written account of the attack on X/Twitter:

…parts of the campus lie in ruins, classrooms shattered, hallways choked with dust and shattered glass.

I saw the offices of professors burned. A newly renovated building, where students gathered for programs, for socializing, for life, destructed.

One student, tearfully, told me: “My professor’s office was still burning a little. That’s where I used to wait for office hours. To ask questions. To appeal my grade.”

One of Doutaghi’s photos; click through for more.

There are other social media descriptions of the attack, such as this X post by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

I also found one report of another attack on the Isfahan University of Technology, apparently a second strike on that campus.

One reason given for the the Iran University of Science and Technology attack is that the Iranian military allegedly used the campus for nuclear weapons research, according to University World News. Another potential reason is that Iranian security forces may be staging on educational campuses, according to the Jerusalem Post.  This is part of a new trend of hitting post-secondary institutions, as Israeli strikes hit two other Tehran campuses, Malek Ashtar University and Imam Hossein University, five days ago.  The given reason there was “their military use by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as a space research centre.”

Iranian responses to the Iran University of Science and Technology strike came quickly. A Tasnim post quotes Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeperson Esmaeil Baqaei on the attack, offering an interpretation of it:

“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… Countering Iran’ ‘nuclear program’ and ‘imminent threat’ were nothing but vicious pretexts — mere fabrications designed to conceal their real intention.”

Then the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that Israeli and American universities in the region are now legitimate targets for Iranian responses, as per another Tasnim post.  I’ll quote the statement in full in case it gets taken down or altered:

Warning to the criminal rulers of the US!

The invading American-Zionist forces, by bombing Tehran University of Science and Technology, have once again targeted Iranian universities in their bombings.

The unwise rulers of the White House should know that from now on, all universities of the occupying regime and American universities in the West Asia region will be legitimate targets for us until two universities are struck in retaliation for the destroyed Iranian universities.

We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region, as well as residents in the surrounding areas, to stay at least one kilometer away from the mentioned universities to protect their lives.

If the US administration wants its universities in the region not be among the two targeted for retaliation in this stage, must by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time, issue an official statement condemning the bombing of universities.

And if it wants its universities in the region to not be hit thereafter, it must prevent its savage allied forces from attacking universities and research centers; otherwise, the threat remains valid and will be carried out.

And there is no victory except from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Quran 3:126)

That’s a pretty clear threat to attack two universities in the region, unless the Trump administration apologizes, which seems unlikely.

Further, the Jerusalem Post reports that “[a]ccording to two Iranian civilians who talked with The Post, security forces have begun assembling in locations such as schools and universities in an apparent effort to deter attacks.”

That’s all for now. Like I said, I’m swamped today.  For more discussion of the Iran war’s impact on academia, our Future Trends Forum discussion may be of use.

My heart goes out to impacted students, faculty, and staff.  I welcome any amendments, reflections, or corrections, especially from people in the region.

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