According to a report by AFP News Agency on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning that it may target American-affiliated universities across the Middle East, escalating tensions following recent strikes it claims destroyed two Iranian academic institutions.
In a statement released Sunday and carried by Iranian media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused the United States of complicity in attacks on educational facilities within Iran. The group demanded that Washington formally condemn the strikes or face potential retaliation.
“If the US government wants its universities in the region to be free from retaliation, it must condemn the bombing of the universities in an official statement by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time,” the statement read.
The warning marks a significant escalation in rhetoric, extending the scope of the conflict beyond military targets to include academic institutions linked to the United States.
Several American universities operate satellite campuses across the Gulf region, raising concerns about the potential impact of the threat. Among them are Texas A&M University, which runs a campus in Qatar, and New York University, which has a major presence in the United Arab Emirates.
The IRGC advised staff, students, and residents near such institutions to maintain a distance of at least one kilometre from campus locations, a warning that could disrupt academic activities and heighten anxiety among expatriate communities.
The threat follows reports of overnight strikes between Friday and Saturday that hit parts of Tehran, including facilities linked to Iran University of Science and Technology. While buildings were reportedly damaged, there were no confirmed casualties.
Iranian authorities have blamed US-Israeli operations for the attacks, describing them as violations of international norms and targeting of civilian infrastructure. However, independent verification of the extent of damage and responsibility remains limited. Read_More…