The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning, declaring that universities affiliated with the United States and Israel in the West Asia region are legitimate targets for retaliation. This announcement follows recent airstrikes carried out by US-Israeli forces against Iranian universities.
In a statement released by the IRGC’s Public Relations office and disseminated through Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News agency, the group condemned the attacks on Tehran University of Science and Technology. The IRGC pledged to respond by targeting two universities connected to the US or Israel within the region.
The declaration, titled “Announcement No. 50 of Operation True Promise 4,” demanded that the US government issue a formal condemnation of the bombings by 12:00 PM Tehran time on March 30 to avoid further escalation of hostilities.
Meanwhile, the IRGC advised all staff, students, and residents living near US university campuses in the region, including those in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, to maintain a distance of at least one kilometer from these institutions for their safety.
In a significant development, the IRGC warned that if the US does not take action and continues what it described as “savage” attacks on Iranian universities and research centers, it would proceed with retaliatory measures. The statement concluded by citing a Quranic verse emphasizing the legitimacy of responding to aggression in kind.
The recent airstrikes, which targeted multiple locations in Tehran including the university, have heightened tensions across the region. Although no casualties were reported, the attacks caused considerable damage to the buildings at Tehran University of Science and Technology.