NYU temporarily closed its Tel Aviv study away site, following the Iranian government’s threats to strike U.S.-affiliated universities in the Middle East — which also prompted the closure of the university’s Abu Dhabi campus.
The university confirmed the closure in a Tuesday statement to WSN, adding that classes at its Tel Aviv study away site are continuing remotely. Iranian officials’ warning on Sunday — in which they advised community members to evacuate at least one kilometer away from campus — threatened action after the U.S.-Israeli strikes on two Iranian universities over the weekend.
In March, NYU shifted indefinitely to remote instruction for both its Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv study away sites, after retaliatory Iranian missiles struck areas nearby — though both remained open with essential services. An NYU Tel Aviv spokesperson told WSN at the time that the site, which saw missile attacks roughly two miles away, will address alerts “as appropriate.” The Tel Aviv site typically hosts about 30 students per semester, and it is unclear how many remained after classes moved remote.
After overnight Israeli strikes on Friday and Saturday damaged two Iranian universities — the Iran University of Science and Technology and the Isfahan University of Technology — the Iranian government claimed that U.S. and Israeli universities are “legitimate targets” and warned the United States to condemn the attacks. When Iran was hit on Sunday evening with more airstrikes, no fatalities were reported, but Iranian officials said four civilians sustained minor injuries and documented damage to several research buildings.
Amid nuclear negotiations with Iran, U.S.-Israeli attacks began on Feb. 28. Iran has reported at least 1,900 deaths, with retaliatory missile strikes killing at least 19 people in Israel and 11 in the United Arab Emirates. Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he expects the war to end in two to three weeks, telling CBS reporters that he is not ready to end efforts and force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid rising gas prices. Some U.S.-affiliated campuses in Qatar, including Northwestern University and Georgetown, have also moved to online classes or temporarily closed their sites.
Contact Eva Mundo at [email protected].