IRGC: US, Israeli universities in West Asia are 'legitimate targets'

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Sunday that it now considers all Israeli and US universities in West Asia "legitimate targets" following attacks on Iranian universities.

The IRGC issued the warning through its official outlet Sepah News, responding to attacks on the University of Science and Technology in Tehran on Saturday and the Isfahan University of Technology in the central city of Isfahan on Thursday.

It said all Israeli and US universities would remain legitimate targets until Iran strikes two of them in retaliation.

The IRGC warned staff, students, and residents near the universities to stay at least 1 kilometer away to avoid harm.

It demanded that Washington issue an official condemnation of the attacks on Iranian universities by 12 p.m. Monday if it wants its regional universities spared.

In a post on social media platform X on Saturday night, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the "Isfahan University of Technology and the University of Science and Technology in Tehran are just two among many universities and research centers deliberately attacked by the aggressors during the past 30 days of their illegal war on the Iranian nation."

"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," he added.

The developments came amid a US-Israel-Iran conflict that began on February 28, with heavy fighting continuing and no breakthrough on a ceasefire as it entered its 30th day on Sunday.