American University in Armenia Moves Classes Online After Iran Warns of Targeting U.S. Campuses

The American University of Armenia announced that all classes scheduled for March 30 will take place online. The decision was made as a precaution due to security concerns linked to recent regional developments.

The university informed students and staff that the shift to online learning is temporary and preventive. Officials explained that the decision was influenced by statements made by Iran regarding possible actions against American educational institutions in parts of West Asia and the Middle East. Despite this, the university made clear that there is no direct threat against its campus in Yerevan.

“Please be informed that, due to security considerations and taking into account threats voiced by Iran regarding the targeting of American universities in West Asia and the Middle East, all classes on Monday, March 30 will be conducted in an online format. We emphasize that this is only a precautionary measure. The university is closely monitoring the situation and will inform about any changes to the schedule or format of instruction.

We would like to stress that no direct threat against our university has been recorded, and there are no grounds to believe the university is in danger. Therefore, there is no reason for panic,” the American University stated.

The announcement comes during rising tensions following statements by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC warned that American university branches operating in the Middle East could be seen as legitimate targets. This warning was presented as a response to recent strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.

According to Iranian officials, those strikes caused damage to major academic institutions, including Tehran University of Science and Technology and Isfahan University of Technology. These incidents have added to concerns about the safety of educational institutions in the region.

The IRGC has also issued a deadline to the United States, demanding an official condemnation of the attacks on Iranian universities by Monday at noon. In addition, the group called on staff, faculty, and students of American universities in the region to keep a distance of at least one kilometer from university campuses.

In response to these developments, the American University of Armenia emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation. University officials stated that they will continue to provide updates if there are any changes, while maintaining that current measures are purely precautionary and there is no immediate danger to the university community.

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