TEHRAN, Mar 29 (V7N) – The conflict between the U.S.-led coalition and Iran escalated into the academic sphere this weekend as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a direct threat against American and Israeli universities in West Asia. Simultaneously, reports from Washington indicate that the Pentagon has finalized plans for a multi-week ground operation on Iranian soil, should President Donald Trump choose to escalate.

IRGC Ultimatum: Universities as "Legitimate Targets"

In a stern statement released on Saturday, March 28, the IRGC designated all U.S. and Israeli-affiliated universities in the region—such as Texas A&M in Qatar and New York University in the UAE—as "legitimate targets."

  • Retaliation for Academic Strikes: The IRGC claims the threat is a direct response to recent U.S.-Israeli bombings of Iranian institutions, specifically citing the Tehran University of Science and Technology and the Isfahan University of Technology.

  • The "One-Kilometer" Warning: The IRGC has warned all students, faculty, and staff to maintain a distance of at least one kilometer from these campuses to "preserve their lives."

  • Monday Deadline: Tehran has given Washington until 12:00 pm (Tehran time) on Monday, March 30, to officially condemn the strikes on Iranian universities. Failure to do so, the IRGC warned, will result in the execution of retaliatory strikes.

Washington Post: Pentagon Prepares "Weeks-Long" Ground Raids

While the IRGC issues threats abroad, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, March 29, that U.S. military planning has reached a "high-readiness" phase for ground operations within Iran.

  • Scope of Operation: The plan stops short of a full-scale invasion. Instead, it involves a mixture of Special Operations Forces and conventional infantry conducting "extended raids" into coastal areas.

  • Primary Objectives: Discussions have focused on seizing Kharg Island—Iran’s primary oil export hub—and neutralizing coastal missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz that continue to threaten global shipping.

  • Trump’s Decision: Despite the advanced planning, officials noted that President Trump remains "uncertain" about greenlighting the deployment due to the high risk of American casualties and the potential for a protracted quagmire.

Regional Casualties and Base Attacks

The rhetoric follows a violent 48 hours in the Gulf:

  • Saudi Base Hit: At least 12 to 15 U.S. soldiers were wounded Friday when an Iranian drone and missile barrage struck the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

  • Alba Facility Strike: The Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) plant, one of the world's largest, reported two employees wounded following an Iranian strike targeting its industrial infrastructure on Saturday.

  • Naval Arrivals: The USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship, carrying roughly 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the region on March 27 to bolster the existing two-carrier strike groups.

As the war enters its fifth week, the transition from air and sea skirmishes to potential ground raids and attacks on civilian-academic centers suggests that the "window for de-escalation" is rapidly closing, despite ongoing mediation efforts in Pakistan.

END/SMA/AJ