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The barbarians at its gates who plan to send Iran to the Stone Age are targeting not only Iran’s physical infrastructure but also its universities, research institutions, and hospitals. According to Iran, till now at least 30 universities have been attacked and damaged and more than 600 schools and education institutions struck.

Iran’s vaunted science and technology capabilities form the basis of its current resilience against American-Israeli attacks. Besides the deceptively simple Shahed drones, they have been able to fabricate a variety of missiles, some with technology not seen anywhere in the world. The attacks have targeted many institutions associated with Iran’s missile and space programmes. But these attacks have expanded to cover areas which have no clear military connection or application.

On April 3, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sounded the alarm on the attacks targeting healthcare infrastructure in Iran. He said that the Pasteur Institute in Tehran had “sustained significant damage and was rendered unable to continue delivering health services.” The Institute was set up in 1920 through an inter-governmental agreement between Iran and France. On the same day, the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital sustained damage in a strike and is currently unable to function. And the Laser and Plasma Research Institute at the Shahid Behesti University in Tehran was attacked, damaging the institute and nearby dormitories as well.

Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty.

On March 31, the Tofigh Daru research and engineering company, was attacked. The facility is a major producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients for anti-cancer, anaesthetic, cardiovascular and narcotic medications. The company is the only major competitor of the Israeli company Teva Pharmaceuticals in the area of multiple sclerosis drugs.

The Daro Bakhsh pharmaceutical factory was hit the next day. This is a production hub for antibiotics, cardio drugs and IV fluids.

On March 23, the Israelis hit Malek Ashtar University & Imam Hossein University in Tehran, alleging they were being used for........

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