By Prof. Shabnam Delfani
A broad coalition of academics, researchers, and students from around the world has issued a strongly worded open letter condemning a series of strikes on universities, laboratories, hospitals, and research facilities in Iran, calling for urgent international intervention to protect civilian scientific infrastructure.
The letter, addressed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and governments of all parties involved, cites at least 21 reported attacks on scientific and educational institutions amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.
According to the signatories, the strikes pose serious risks to researchers, students, and medical personnel, while causing long-term damage to scientific progress and public welfare. They emphasized that such institutions are vital civilian spaces that must be protected under international norms.
Particular concern has been raised over attacks carried out between March 28 and 31, 2026. Among the reported targets were Isfahan University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, and Amirkabir University of Technology. On March 31, Tofigh Daru, one of Iran’s largest pharmaceutical research and development centers, sustained significant damage. The facility plays a key role in producing anesthetics and treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cancer.
“Scientific and educational institutions are civilian spaces essential to public health, knowledge, and human survival,” the letter states, warning that their destruction could have lasting consequences for both national and global scientific communities.
The signatories have called on all parties to immediately halt attacks on civilian academic and research sites, including universities, laboratories, hospitals, libraries, and archives. They have also urged international bodies to document the damage, support affected scholars, and launch independent investigations into potential violations of international humanitarian law.
“Science is not a military target. Universities and laboratories must not become battlefields,” the letter asserts, stressing the need for accountability through impartial legal mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have warned of possible retaliatory measures targeting American and Israeli-linked academic institutions in the region, raising concerns about a potential expansion of the conflict into educational domains.
The appeal highlights a longstanding global consensus on the protection of academic and scientific institutions during times of conflict. It underscores that safeguarding academic freedom and scientific capacity is essential not only for Iran but for the broader framework of international cooperation and human progress.
Reports continue to emerge of material damage to academic and medical facilities in Iran, with some accounts indicating injuries among university staff. Observers warn that continued targeting of such institutions could have far-reaching implications for global research collaboration and stability.
Please Sign: Open Letter: Protect Scientific Institutions in Iran and Ensure Accountability for Aggressors
