At least 34 people, including six children, have been killed after the United States and Israel carried out widespread airstrikes across Iran, targeting academic institutions, infrastructure, and residential areas, according to officials and media reports. The attacks have intensified an already volatile conflict that began in late February.
Al Jazeera reported that among the sites hit were major universities in Tehran. Shahid Beheshti University sustained significant damage, with Iran's Science Minister Hossein Simaee Sarraf inspecting the aftermath. Sharif University of Technology, often compared to MIT, was also struck, damaging laboratories and a campus mosque. Media reports indicated additional attacks on nearby infrastructure, including roads, power plants, and a gas facility.
Also Read:
According to Al Jazeera, casualties were reported across multiple regions. In Baharestan County, 23 people, including six young children, were killed. Authorities also confirmed five deaths in Qom and six in Bandar-e Lengeh. Strikes were recorded in several cities, including Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Karaj, highlighting the wide geographic spread of the attacks. Iran's Ministry of Science stated that at least 30 universities have been hit since the conflict began.
Iranian officials strongly condemned the strikes. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref accused the US of using a “bunker-buster” bomb on Sharif University, calling it symbolic of aggression but insisting Iran's intellectual strength cannot be destroyed. Meanwhile, Iran confirmed the death of IRGC intelligence chief Seyyed Majid Khademi, reportedly killed in what was described as a targeted attack.
Humanitarian concerns are rising rapidly. Jagan Chapagain of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that multiple ambulances have been hit, with four volunteers killed while carrying out rescue operations.
Tensions have also escalated around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global energy supplies pass. US President Donald Trump warned Iran to reopen the waterway or face further strikes, while Tehran vowed retaliation and rejected external pressure, raising fears of broader regional and economic consequences.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.