Iran escalates threats, warns possible strikes on US academic institutions in Middle East

2026-03-29 - 05:14

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has issued a stark warning that American university campuses in the Middle East could become potential targets, in what marks a significant escalation in rhetoric amid ongoing regional tensions. In a statement carried by the Fars News Agency, which is closely associated with the Guard, Tehran warned that US-affiliated universities operating in the region may face retaliation unless Washington formally condemns recent US and Israeli strikes by noon on Monday, March 30. The statement urged staff, faculty, students, and nearby residents to keep a distance of at least one kilometer from such campuses, signaling heightened security concerns, dw.com reports. Several prominent American institutions maintain branches across the Gulf, including Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates. The warning comes after weeks of sustained US and Israeli military operations that have reportedly caused extensive damage to Iran’s military infrastructure. Despite these setbacks, Iran has continued to launch retaliatory strikes against Israel and US-aligned countries in the Gulf, underscoring the persistent volatility of the situation. \ ==