IRGC Issues Ultimatum to US Over Alleged Strikes on Iranian Universities

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued an ultimatum on Sunday, threatening to strike American university campuses in the Middle East unless Washington officially condemns the bombing of Iranian universities by noon on Monday, March 30, 2026. The IRGC declared that US-affiliated campuses in the region could become "legitimate targets" if the deadline passes without a formal condemnation, according to a statement first reported by Fars News Agency. The statement specifically named Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates as institutions potentially at risk. The IRGC also advised all employees, professors, students, and nearby residents to stay at least one kilometer away from the campuses. The threat follows reported US-Israeli strikes on the University of Science and Technology in Tehran and the Isfahan University of Technology, which Iranian officials described as a deliberate campaign against the country's scientific and cultural foundations.

Tehran strikes lit up the capital overnight Powerful explosions were reported overnight in both eastern and western parts of Tehran, lighting up the capital's skyline, according to France 24. In the south of the country, US-Israeli strikes killed five people in the city of Bandar Khamir, near the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported. Iranian officials stated that nearly 2,000 people have been killed since the start of the war, including more than 200 children, though these figures have not been independently verified. Iran has also continued strikes on major infrastructure in Gulf countries, recently hitting aluminum plants in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which Tehran claims are linked to the US military. Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, characterized the strikes on universities as part of a systematic campaign.

„The true goal of American-Israeli aggression against Iran is to destroy the scientific foundation and cultural heritage of our country by systematically striking universities, research centers, historical monuments and outstanding scientists.” — Esmaeil Baghaei via Deutsche Welle

The current Middle East conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched wide-ranging airstrikes on Iran in what was designated Operation Epic Fury. The initial strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel, several Persian Gulf states, and US military facilities in the region. Iran also blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil supplies were transported before the war.

Houthis claim coordinated missile barrage against Israel Houthi spokesman Yahya Sari stated that the group carried out what he described as a "massive barrage of cruise missiles and drones" aimed at several key military facilities in Israel, timed to coincide with strikes by Iran and Hezbollah operating in Lebanon. The Israeli armed forces reported intercepting a cruise missile launched by the Houthis from Yemen. Sari added that the Houthis would continue strikes until what he called "the enemy stops attacks and aggression," framing the offensive as a response to Israeli military actions against Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories. The coordinated nature of the strikes across multiple fronts — Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen — reflects the broader alignment of these groups in the ongoing conflict. Tehran has also blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that previously carried roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies, compounding the regional economic disruption.

IRGC demands Washington act before noon deadline The IRGC's ultimatum represents a direct challenge to the administration of US President Donald Trump, demanding a public and official condemnation of the university strikes within hours. The statement, as reported by multiple outlets including Politico and Deutsche Welle, also called on Washington to prevent Israel from targeting additional Iranian universities and research centers. The Financial Times reported that the IRGC characterized American and Israeli university campuses in the region as "legitimate targets" in the absence of a formal US response. The ultimatum adds a new dimension to the conflict by explicitly threatening civilian academic institutions, a step that drew attention from international observers. No official response from the US government had been confirmed by the time of publication on Sunday evening.

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