Iranian minister says US, Israel 'belong to Stone Age' after attack on Tehran university

Iran’s science minister denounces U.S. and Israeli strikes on a Tehran university, calling the attack on academic institutions uncivilized amid escalating conflict.

Reuters

April 04, 2026

The research building of the Shahid Beheshti University, which was damaged by a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 4, 2026.

Majid Asgaripour/Reuters

Iran's Minister of Science Hossein Simaee Sarraf on Saturday (April 4) said that the U.S. and Israel belonged to the "Stone Age" after an attack on a university in northern Tehran.

Iranian state media said on Saturday that the Shahid Beheshti University and the area of Mehrabad International Airport had been attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

Speaking outside the research building of the university, Simaee Sarraf added, "a civilised country, a civilised government never targets institutions of knowledge, laboratories or research centres."

The U.S. and Israel opened their campaign on Iran with a wave of strikes that killed the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. The war has killed thousands and threatened lasting damage to the global economy.

Production: Carla O'Connor/Reuters

Iran's Minister of Science Hossein Simaee Sarraf on Saturday (April 4) said that the U.S. and Israel belonged to the "Stone Age" after an attack on a university in northern Tehran.

Iranian state media said on Saturday that the Shahid Beheshti University and the area of Mehrabad International Airport had been attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

Speaking outside the research building of the university, Simaee Sarraf added, "a civilised country, a civilised government never targets institutions of knowledge, laboratories or research centres."

Production: Carla O'Connor/Reuters