Iran threatens to strike US universities in Middle East following US-Israeli attacks on academic institutions

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to target US-affiliated university campuses in the Middle East, warning they could become "legitimate targets" following recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian academic institutions.

The IRGC said campuses linked to American universities in the region could face retaliation unless Washington formally condemns the bombing of Iranian universities by noon on Monday, Tehran time.

"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 said.

It also warned staff, students and residents to avoid such campuses, saying: "We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas" to stay at least one kilometre away.

The threat follows reports that US-Israeli strikes damaged two Iranian universities, including the University of Science and Technology in Tehran, where buildings were reportedly hit without causing casualties.

Several American institutions operate campuses across the Gulf, including Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in Abu Dhabi.

The warning has already prompted a response from universities in the region. The American University of Beirut said it would shift to remote operations for two days as a precaution.

"Like many of you, we learned early this morning of threats issued against American universities in the region," AUB president Fadlo Khouri said in a statement.

"At this time, we have no evidence of direct threats against our university, its campuses or medical centres. At the same time, out of an abundance of caution, we will operate fully online on Monday and Tuesday, with the exception of essential personnel."

Classes and exams will be conducted remotely during that period, he added.

The university, one of the most prominent US-linked institutions in the region, is located in central Beirut alongside its medical centre.

The threat comes amid a widening regional war that has drawn in multiple countries and armed groups, mobilised by Iran in retaliation for the US-Israel war on the country.

The escalation raises fears that civilian institutions, including universities, could increasingly be drawn into the conflict, particularly given Israel’s documented targeting of educational facilities in Gaza during its genocidal war on the enclave.