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The Sharif University of Technology in Tehran was bombed on Monday, destroying and damaging multiple buildings, including an artificial intelligence centre housing critical databases. The university's website and other online services went dark.University President Masoud Tajrishi stated that the attack was intended to hinder Iran's progress in AI technology, which the university had been working on for two years. He emphasized that the enemy does not want Iran to succeed or develop, but all Iranian universities are now united in response to these attacks.The US and Israel have not provided an official reason for targeting Iran's higher education hubs or cultural heritage sites, which are considered civilian infrastructure. Over 30 universities have been affected by US and Israeli attacks since the start of the war on February 28.The attacks have prompted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to declare US and Israeli-affiliated universities 'legitimate targets'. In response, university heads have urged the IRGC to refrain from attacking other universities, considering them 'human and global heritage' entities.The increasing systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure has caused deep concerns among many Iranians, especially since the country was already dealing with economic woes and an energy crisis. The attacks have also sparked debate among Iranians, with some supporting US and Israeli actions in the hope of toppling the governing establishment.

The conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel has taken a severe turn with a series of coordinated attacks on Iranian universities and infrastructure. A research center at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran was recently bombed, leaving it in ruins. This attack is part of a larger pattern of civilian sites being targeted by the US and Israel. Over 30 universities have been impacted since the start of the war on February 28, according to Hossein Simaei Saraf, the Iranian minister of science, research, and technology. The attacks have not only damaged educational facilities but also research centers, including those working on domestically made satellites and infectious diseases. The Pasteur Institute in Tehran, a renowned center for vaccine development and biological products, was also attacked, sustaining significant damage and disrupting health services. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the damage and noted that no casualties were reported. In addition to educational and healthcare facilities, over 20 healthcare facilities have been targeted since March 1, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The attacks have also affected schools, houses, and businesses, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and widespread destruction. The economic sector has not been spared, with petrochemical and steel factories being destroyed in recent bombardments. The US and Israel have also targeted critical infrastructure, including power plants and water desalination plants, which are civilian targets protected under international law. The Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have vowed to retaliate and escalate attacks across the region. The situation has drawn international condemnation, with over 100 US legal experts expressing concerns about potential war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.

President Donald Trump warned that “all hell” would descend on Iran if Tehran failed to agree to a peace settlement within 48 hours. The Iranian government dismissed the demand as “helpless and nervous,” signaling a firm refusal to bow to U.S. pressure.Amid the diplomatic standoff, Iran reported that recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone resulted in five fatalities and left 170 people injured. The attacks, part of a broader campaign, have also targeted more than 30 Iranian universities since the conflict began, highlighting an expanding focus on the country’s educational and industrial infrastructure.In a separate development, a fire erupted at a key oil complex in Kuwait, raising concerns about potential interruptions to the nation’s oil output and the broader Gulf energy market. While the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, officials are working to contain the incident and prevent any spillover effects on global oil supplies.The twin events illustrate escalating geopolitical friction in the region. Iran’s rejection of the U.S. ultimatum may embolden further confrontations, while the Kuwait fire adds an economic dimension that could influence oil prices and investor sentiment worldwide.

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran is now spilling onto academic grounds. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) publicly warned U.S. universities in nearby nations following weekend attacks on two Iranian campuses.According to Tehran‑based sources, at least 21 Iranian universities have sustained damage since the war erupted. The targeting of educational institutions marks a troubling escalation, raising questions about the strategic value of universities in modern warfare.In a recent podcast episode, Setareh Sadeqi, an assistant professor at the University of Tehran, discusses the motivations behind these strikes and the broader implications for Iran’s higher‑education sector. The program, produced by Al Jazeera’s AJ E Podcasts team, also explores how the “war on Iran” is extending beyond traditional battlefields into classrooms and research labs.Key takeaways include the IRGC’s threat to retaliate against U.S. institutions, the potential impact on international academic collaborations, and the symbolic message that disrupting knowledge hubs can weaken a nation’s resilience.Listeners can follow the discussion on X, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube via @AJEPodcasts.

An Iranian academic has strongly condemned the recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran's universities, describing them as a deliberate attempt to undermine the country's academic freedom and intellectual capabilities. The attacks, which have been widely criticized by academics and human rights organizations, have resulted in significant damage to several Iranian universities, disrupting the academic year and causing concern among students and faculty. The Iranian academic, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the attacks are part of a broader strategy to weaken Iran's educational system and suppress dissenting voices. The incident has sparked international condemnation, with many calling for an immediate end to the attacks and a return to diplomatic channels to resolve any outstanding issues.

The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its 30th day, with diplomatic efforts intensifying to bring an end to the conflict. Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to hold talks in Islamabad, aimed at de-escalating the situation.The conflict has escalated across the Middle East, with Yemen's Houthis joining the war by firing missiles at Israel on Saturday. Tehran has threatened retaliatory attacks on Israeli and US universities in the region after the United States and Israel bombed Iranian universities.US-Israeli strikes have continued, with powerful explosions rocking Tehran on Sunday morning, killing two people and wounding five in a residential area. The Iranian Fars news agency reported that US-Israeli attacks also hit the Saadat Abad neighbourhood of northern Tehran and another residential area in the west of the capital.In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed 10 drones in the early hours of Sunday, while the UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defences responded to missiles and drone threats. Emirates Global Aluminium reported that an Iranian attack on Saturday inflicted significant damage on one of its sites in Abu Dhabi and wounded six employees.Iran's power has been underestimated, according to Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran. He said that one month into the war, Iran has proved that its power was underestimated by the enemy, who thought that the war would be a short excursion and that the country would capitulate after just a few days of bombardment.The conflict has also led to protests in Lebanon, with protesters taking to the streets in Beirut after Israeli forces killed journalists Fatima Ftouni and her brother and colleague, Mohammed, of Al Mayadeen, as well as Al-Manar's Ali Shuaib on Saturday.In Israel, people took to the streets in Tel Aviv, rallying against the war and increased settler violence, as they clashed with police. The Israeli military announced the death of a soldier, Moshe Yitzhak HaCohen Katz, in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel continue.The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said some 3,500 additional soldiers arrived in the Middle East on board the USS Tripoli. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, although Al Jazeera could not independently verify the report.

The conflict in the Middle East has taken a dramatic turn as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched a second wave of attacks on Israel since joining the conflict on Saturday. The Houthis have vowed to continue their military operations in the coming days until Israel "ceases its attacks and aggression".In a significant escalation, two powerful explosions shook northern Tehran early on Sunday, with air defenses operating in the Iranian capital. The blasts occurred around 7:20 am, but it was not immediately clear what was targeted.Meanwhile, the US is reportedly preparing plans for ground operations in Iran, with the Trump administration having already deployed US Marines to the Middle East. The Pentagon is considering weeks of ground operations in Iran, potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz.The entry of the Houthis into the conflict poses a direct threat to the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, a critical choke point in the supply chain of energy supplies and other trade in and out of the Middle East. A shutdown of the Bab al-Mandab, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, would amplify the already grave impact of the war on the global economy and could also reignite a Saudi-Yemen conflict.Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has told one of the US's biggest annual gatherings of conservatives that he is ready to lead a new Iranian government and would call on the country's citizens to rise up when the "right moment arrives".Iran's Revolutionary Guard has threatened to target US universities in the Middle East after saying US-Israeli strikes had deliberately targeted two Iranian universities.