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Politics
Apr 08, 2026

US and Israel Target Iran's Educational Infrastructure, Hinder AI Progress

AI Summary
The head of Iran's Sharif University of Technology believes that the US and Israel are targeting symbols of Iran's progress, including its educational institutions and AI research. The university was recently bombed, destroying its AI centre and disrupting online services.

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.