Iran's Premier Tech University Bombed, Accusing US and Israel of Targeting AI Progress
TEHRAN — A direct strike on Iran's leading scientific institution has ignited accusations that the United States and Israel are systematically targeting the nation's technological and educational progress, rather than solely its military or political apparatus.
On Monday, explosions rocked the campus of Tehran's prestigious Sharif University of Technology, severely damaging several buildings. Among the structures hit was a facility described by officials as a dedicated artificial intelligence center, housing critical research data and servers. The attack knocked the university's network offline, paralyzing its digital infrastructure.
"This was not a random hit. The enemy's objective is to prevent Iran from achieving sovereignty in critical fields like AI," said University President Masoud Tajrishi, surveying the damage. He revealed the university had been developing Persian-language AI models for two years, serving hundreds of domestic companies—a project born from necessity due to long-standing U.S. sanctions blocking technology transfer.
The bombing at Sharif, a university founded over sixty years ago and often called Iran's "MIT," appears part of a broader pattern. In recent weeks, research labs at other major institutions, including the historic Pasteur Institute and Shahid Beheshti University, have also been hit. Iran's Minister of Science reported last week that more than 30 universities have been affected since hostilities escalated in late February.
The attacks have triggered a volatile domestic debate. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared universities affiliated with the U.S. and Israel as "legitimate targets." Meanwhile, a letter signed by 15 university presidents initially urged restraint to protect education as "global heritage," though some signatories later adopted a more hardline stance under pressure.
The strikes come amid a significant escalation of attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including railways and energy facilities, ahead of a U.S.-imposed deadline. President Trump's recent threats to bomb power plants and bridges have drawn condemnation as potential violations of international law, compounding fears of a humanitarian catastrophe in a nation of over 90 million already grappling with economic strain.
In a defiant symbol, a Sharif mathematics professor held an online class from the rubble of a bombed building on Tuesday. Nearby, placards sarcastically declared, "Trump's help has arrived"—a reference to U.S. and Israeli leaders' statements framing military action as aid to the Iranian people.
The targeting of civilian sites has sown deep anxiety. "The terror isn't just the explosion; it's wondering if you'll have electricity to check the news tomorrow," an anonymous student from Shahid Beheshti University told Al Jazeera.
The conflict has also exacerbated internal divisions. State media have accused diaspora dissidents of facilitating attacks, while critics of the government abroad argue the regime's policies have invited the crisis. "Our people want to work, study, and breathe," read a statement from non-government student groups, lamenting the loss of future potential.
Voices & Reaction
Dr. Anahita Rostami, Data Scientist (London): "As an alumna, this is heartbreaking. Targeting a university's AI lab isn't warfare; it's an attempt to erase a nation's future. The research there was foundational for local industry. This sets back innovation for a generation."
Mark Jensen, Security Analyst (Washington D.C.): "While tragic, these facilities are not purely civilian in a modern conflict. Iran's AI and tech sectors are deeply integrated with its military-industrial complex. Denying an adversary strategic technological advantage is a documented wartime objective."
Reza Farhadi, Former Professor (Stockholm, voice raised): "This is barbarism, plain and simple! Justifying the bombing of universities and power plants? What's next, hospitals? The regime is one thing, but this collective punishment of 90 million people is a war crime. The world's silence is complicity."
Professor Elena Moretti, International Law Scholar (Rome): "The systematic targeting of educational and critical civilian infrastructure raises severe legal and ethical questions. Even within the fog of war, the principle of distinction is clear. These actions risk normalizing a dangerous precedent that blurs the line between military and civilian spheres globally."