The American University of Armenia (AUA) on Monday announced it had moved all classes online following threats from Iran to target US-affiliated universities across West Asia and the Middle East.

In a statement, the university said the decision was a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of students and staff, stressing that it had not received any direct threat. “Due to the threat made by Iran to target American universities in West Asia and the Middle East, all AUA classes on Monday, March 30, will be held fully online,” the statement read.

The development comes amid rising tensions after Iran accused the United States and Israel of carrying out strikes that allegedly destroyed two Iranian universities. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that US-linked institutions in the region could face retaliation unless the US government condemns the attacks.

The warning, reported by Iranian media, urged “all employees, professors and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas” to stay at least one kilometre away from such campuses, heightening concerns across the academic community.

Other institutions have taken similar steps. The American University of Beirut announced it would operate remotely for two days, while the American University of Madaba in Jordan has shifted to online classes until Thursday for its approximately 3,000 students.

Several American universities maintain campuses across the Middle East, including Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates, making the situation a significant concern for international education in the region.