Spokesman: US-Israeli Strikes on Universities Expose Deep Hostility to Iran’s Scientific Growth

Published: March 29, 2026 

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned the US‑Israeli strikes on Iranian universities, stating that these attacks expose the deep‑seated hostility of Washington and Tel Aviv toward Iran’s scientific advancement.

In a statement released on Sunday, Esmail Baqaei said that attacking universities and scientific centers is not a typical act in armed conflict—unless the adversary is so desperate that it wrongly believes it can halt the dynamic growth of science and industry by physically destroying infrastructure.His remarks followed the US‑Israeli bombing of Isfahan University of Technology on Wednesday and a strike on Tehran University of Science and Technology on Friday.Baqaei noted that while the targeting of universities is deplorable and reflects the aggressors’ malicious nature and their opposition to Iran’s scientific progress, it also serves as a point of pride for the country’s scientific and research institutions.“Enemies strike where they have been dealt heavy blows,” he said. “Nothing hurts them more than witnessing science and technology rooted in the indigenous capabilities of Iran’s young generation—capabilities that have advanced to the point where Iran now depends more on its own strengths than on any foreign country.”He stressed that, like previous desperate attempts at technological sabotage, this latest act will prove futile.The spokesperson further stated that science and technology are not imported goods nor do they arise from bricks and steel. Instead, he described them as enduring and advancing elements of an ancient civilization—one that generously and respectfully offers its achievements and innovations to the world.

On Saturday, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that universities belonging to the Israeli occupying regime and the United States in the West Asia region are legitimate targets for Iran, following the two “terrorist regimes’” attacks on Iranian universities.

Fars News Agency