TEHRAN, April 4 – A widening wave of airstrikes by the United States and Israel is increasingly affecting Iran’s civilian and academic landscape, with universities, research institutes, and public infrastructure now caught in the expanding scope of the conflict. Iranian authorities report that at least 30 universities have sustained damage since the war began on February 28, raising alarm among academics and international observers about the long-term consequences for education and scientific progress.
At Shahid Beheshti University in northern Tehran, the destruction is stark. A once-active research facility, the Laser and Plasma Research Institute, now lies in ruins following an air raid carried out late Friday. The strike caused significant structural damage, though casualties were avoided as classes nationwide had already shifted online under government directives. Nearby dormitories suffered minor damage, according to university officials.
The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from Iranian authorities and academic leaders. In a formal statement, Shahid Beheshti University described the strike as an assault not only on infrastructure but on intellectual freedom itself, urging academic institutions worldwide to speak out. The university’s leadership highlighted that prominent scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who previously led a specialized laboratory there, had been killed earlier in the conflict, underscoring what officials describe as a broader pattern targeting Iran’s scientific community.
Academic and Healthcare Institutions Under Fire
Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hossein Simaei Saraf, confirmed during a visit to the damaged campus that dozens of universities have been affected in recent weeks. Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that Iranian scientists have long been targets, referencing past assassinations and recent attacks on faculty members during earlier phases of the conflict. He warned that such actions risk dismantling decades of academic progress, comparing the destruction of research centers to “forcing a return to primitive conditions.”
Other major institutions have also been hit. Tehran’s Science and Technology University suffered extensive damage after one of its research divisions, reportedly involved in satellite development, was struck. Laboratories and adjacent departments were partially destroyed, disrupting ongoing projects tied to Iran’s domestic space ambitions.
Healthcare facilities have not been spared. The Pasteur Institute in central Tehran, a historic institution known for its work in infectious diseases and vaccine production, sustained heavy damage in a recent strike. According to the WHO, which collaborates with parts of the institute, the facility is no longer operational, though no fatalities were reported. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted in a public statement that more than 20 healthcare-related sites have been impacted since early March, including hospitals and specialized treatment centers.
One such facility, the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital, was significantly damaged in a weekend strike, further straining Iran’s already pressured healthcare system. In addition, a pharmaceutical company near Tehran was targeted earlier this week. Iranian officials claimed the attack was aimed at disrupting medicine production and supply chains, while Israeli authorities alleged the facility had links to prohibited weapons development.
Beyond institutional damage, residential neighborhoods, schools, and small businesses have also been caught in the crossfire. Iranian government figures estimate that over 2,000 people have been killed since the escalation began, though independent verification remains difficult. Residents of Tehran reported low-flying fighter jets and nighttime bombardments illuminating the northern outskirts of the capital.
Economic Targets and Civilian Impact Expand
Alongside academic and healthcare facilities, the focus of recent strikes has increasingly shifted toward Iran’s economic backbone. In the southern city of Mahshahr, a critical hub for the country’s oil and petrochemical industries, heavy bombardment over the weekend caused widespread damage. Local officials reported that several refineries were hit, with at least five people injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a public address that a significant portion of Iran’s steel production capacity had been disabled through coordinated strikes. According to his remarks, two major steel producers were rendered inoperable, marking a substantial blow to one of Iran’s key industrial sectors.
Infrastructure critical to daily life has also been targeted. A newly constructed suspension bridge near Tehran, designed to ease traffic between the capital and surrounding regions, was severely damaged in two consecutive air raids. The attack resulted in multiple casualties, with Iranian emergency services reporting at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries. The bridge, which had not yet opened to the public, was reportedly struck due to allegations from a US official that it was being used for military logistics, a claim that Iranian authorities have denied.
The broader strategy appears tied to mounting pressure on Iran over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route. US President Donald Trump has publicly warned that continued closure of the waterway could trigger further strikes on critical infrastructure, including power generation and water desalination facilities. Such threats have raised serious legal concerns, as these installations are considered civilian assets under international law.
Meanwhile, nuclear-related sites have also come under repeated attack. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant area has reportedly been struck multiple times, with the latest incident causing limited damage to surrounding structures and the death of a security guard. Iranian officials maintain that the reactor itself remains intact.
The ongoing escalation has prompted concern among legal experts and human rights advocates. A group of US-based legal experts recently issued a joint statement warning that the pattern of strikes could constitute violations of international humanitarian law, particularly where civilian infrastructure is involved. They also cautioned about the potential for broader regional consequences if the conflict continues to intensify.
As tensions rise, Iranian military leadership has signaled that it does not intend to de-escalate. Commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have reiterated that any further attacks will be met with expanded retaliation across the region, suggesting that the conflict may enter an even more volatile phase in the days ahead.