Iranian universities under bombardment, with attacks seen as bid to cripple scientific base

[Financial News] University campuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran are becoming targets of airstrikes believed to have been carried out by the State of Israel. Institutions that train science and technology personnel are being hit in particular.
Esmail Baghaei Hamaneh, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, wrote on X (social network) on the 28th local time that Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran and Isfahan University of Technology had come under attack.
He condemned the strikes, saying, "By systematically targeting universities, research institutes, historical monuments, and prominent scientists, they are trying to paralyze the country's scientific base and cultural heritage."
He added, "The United States of America (U.S.) and the State of Israel claim they are responding to Iran's nuclear program, but this is nothing more than a vicious pretext," insisting it is "a simple fabrication to conceal their true intentions."
The State of Israel has targeted Iranian nuclear scientists not only in last June's war, but again during the current conflict.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that it had obtained footage showing a building at Iran University of Science and Technology engulfed in flames after a bombing on the 28th, and that geolocation analysis confirmed the site in the video was indeed part of the university.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on the 28th local time that they had struck the Tehran headquarters of the Marine Industries Organization of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as a facility involved in the research, development, and production of various naval weapons.
The State of Israel has recently intensified airstrikes on key strategic targets, viewing it as possible that the U.S. could unilaterally declare a cease-fire.

chlee1@fnnews.com Lee Chang-hoon Reporter