'Heartbreaking': Iranian Academia Under Siege Amidst Bombings and Repression

The ongoing conflict in Iran has inflicted a devastating toll on the nation's academic and research infrastructure, with an estimated 30 universities damaged since the war began on February 28, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. This destruction, attributed to bombs dropped by the United States and Israel, has drawn widespread condemnation from the international academic community. Over 1,400 international scholars have signed an open letter to the United Nations and warring parties, decrying the targeting of civilian academic, health, and research facilities. Among the affected institutions are the prestigious Sharif University of Technology, Iran's leading tech institution, and the century-old Pasteur Institute of Iran, both located in Tehran and vital centers for scientific advancement. Despite these reports, spokespersons for the White House and Israel's military have separately denied targeting civilian infrastructure, without offering explanations for the damage to these specific sites. The impact on researchers and students has been profound and multifaceted. Abideh Jafari, a particle physicist at Isfahan University of Technology and a deputy team leader at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, recounts her university being attacked twice in late March. A nationwide internet blackout severely hampered her team's ability to access crucial data from CERN, crippling their work. Jafari highlights the severe mental distress among students, many of whom were "worried because the city was being bombarded." She has also issued a plea to the international science-publishing community, urging journal editors and referees to understand that the current situation prevents quick replies and may cause Iranian scientists to lag in publishing their findings. Beyond the physical destruction, the emotional and intellectual toll is immense. Hamed Bikaraan-Behesht, an ethics of science researcher in Tehran, describes the situation as "heartbreaking," witnessing a country under attack and innocent people losing homes. Researchers now feel unsafe attending universities and struggle to concentrate. Bikaraan-Behesht himself lost contact with an international collaborator due to internet shutdowns and lost track of a paper review. He expresses deep concern for the long-term future of science in Iran, fearing that post-war reconstruction costs will divert vital research funds. Similarly, Ebrahim Azadegan, a philosopher at Sharif University of Technology, experienced a devastating personal loss when his office, containing over 1,000 books collected over a lifetime, was destroyed in the April 6 bombing. "Works I had lived with, grown with, loved and cherished were gone in a single moment," he lamented, adding that his notes, manuscripts, and students' papers were all burned, an "act of real cruelty and atrocity." Neuroscientist Ali Gorji, who supervises PhD students at Tehran's Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, confirmed damage to the center on March 1, just days into the war, noting that nearby hospitals were also attacked. While a large brain-tissue bank miraculously survived, Gorji emphasizes a broader, more insidious threat. He urges the global scientific community to be more vocal against attacks on research infrastructure. "You can rebuild a building," Gorji states, "But if attacks on universities become a normal thing, then they can happen in any future stupid war. And this idea is much more destructive than attacking a single building." His words underscore the danger of normalizing the destruction of intellectual hubs. This current crisis is compounded by pre-existing challenges to academic freedom within Iran. Prior to the latest conflict, many students and academics had engaged in protests advocating for greater democracy, human rights, and liberty. The Iranian government, however, brutally suppressed these demonstrations in January, resulting in numerous student casualties and a tightening of its already firm grip on universities. Academics now fear that once the war concludes, the government will further intensify its control and "settle scores" with critics, exacerbating an already stifling environment for independent thought and research. The confluence of external military strikes and internal political repression has created an unprecedented crisis for Iranian academia. From the physical obliteration of labs and libraries to the psychological distress of researchers and the suppression of intellectual liberty, the damage extends far beyond bricks and mortar. The international scientific community faces a critical moment to support its Iranian counterparts and condemn actions that threaten the very foundations of global knowledge and progress, lest the destruction of academic institutions become an accepted norm in future conflicts.