The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday issued a formal threat to target United States-affiliated universities across the Middle East following allegations that American and Israeli strikes destroyed two academic institutions within Iran. In a statement disseminated by local media, the elite military wing warned that US higher education branches in the region face potential retaliatory actions if Washington fails to explicitly denounce the recent attacks. The IRGC has set a strict deadline for a diplomatic response, demanding that the US government officially condemn the bombing of Iranian universities by noon on Monday, Tehran time, to ensure their own regional campuses remain exempt from reprisal.
The ultimatum specifically advised all staff members, lecturers, and students currently associated with American universities in the Middle East to maintain a safe distance of at least one kilometre from their respective campuses. This advisory was framed as a necessary safety precaution in anticipation of potential military or paramilitary escalations. Among the prominent institutions with a significant presence in the region are Texas A&M University, which operates a campus in Qatar, and New York University, located in the United Arab Emirates. Both sites represent major American educational hubs that could be vulnerable under the current security climate.
The escalation follows a series of military strikes reported between Friday night and Saturday morning, which allegedly struck the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) situated in north-eastern Tehran. While the bombardment resulted in substantial structural damage to several campus buildings, official reports confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries recorded during the incident. The Iranian authorities have pointed towards a coordinated effort involving US and Israeli forces as the primary cause for the destruction of their educational infrastructure, prompting the current vow for a symmetric response against Western academic targets.
The IRGC’s rhetoric underscores the growing tension in the region, as academic institutions—typically considered neutral ground—are now being drawn into the broader geopolitical conflict. Military analysts suggest that the threat against universities in Qatar and the UAE is a strategic move intended to pressure Washington through its regional allies. By targeting high-profile civilian and educational symbols, the IRGC appears to be signaling that it is prepared to expand the scope of its retaliatory operations beyond traditional military installations.
As the Monday deadline approaches, international security agencies are closely monitoring the situation for any signs of troop movements or increased paramilitary activity near Western educational facilities. The US State Department has yet to issue a formal rebuttal or condemnation in line with the IRGC’s demands, leading to heightened anxiety among the expatriate academic community in the Persian Gulf. For now, the focus remains on the diplomatic developments over the next twenty-four hours, which will determine whether these regional campuses will be forced to implement emergency evacuation protocols or temporary closures.
