Latest news with #IslamicAzadUniversity
Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Top 10 universities of Iran to watch out for
एशियाई यूनिवर्सिटीज में पढ़ते छात्र (Gemini) A growing number of Indian students, especially from Kashmir, are seeking academic opportunities in Iran, a country steadily gaining ground in global higher education. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), around 2,050 Indian students were studying in Iran in 2022, primarily pursuing medical degrees at universities such as Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, and Islamic Azad University. What draws these students isn't just cultural proximity or affordability, but Iran's academic reputation, especially in medicine, engineering, and emerging sciences. The latest US News and World Report rankings highlight several Iranian universities as globally competitive, with many earning high ranks in subject-specific areas such as Polymer Science, Pharmacology, Water Resources, and Green Technology. US News & World Report Global University Rankings: Top Iranian universities Here is the list of the top universities in Iran according to the US News and World Report rankings 2025: University Global Rank Asia Rank Iran Rank Global Score University of Tehran 281 62 1 59.3 Islamic Azad University 403 102 2 55.3 Sharif University of Technology 565 154 3 50.3 Tehran University of Medical Sciences 588 165 5 49.8 Amirkabir University of Technology 712 218 6 46.8 Tarbiat Modares University 737 230 7 46.3 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 781 249 8 45.3 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 810 257 9 44.5 Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 841 265 10 43.8 Edit University of Tehran Ranked 281 in the world and first in Iran, the University of Tehran is Iran's most prestigious institution, known for its robust academic framework and international reach. With over 55,000 students and a strong global research reputation, the university excels in the following disciplines: Polymer Science (7) Green and Sustainable Science and Technology (13) Pharmacology and Toxicology (26) Water Resources (26) Agricultural Sciences (50) Mechanical Engineering (52) Civil Engineering (72) Artificial Intelligence (80) Energy and Fuels (41) Engineering (42) Food Science and Technology (60) Islamic Azad University Ranked 403 globally and second in Iran, Islamic Azad University is one of the largest private university systems in the world. It is especially known for its depth in applied sciences and engineering, including: Polymer Science (10) Green and Sustainable Science and Technology (10) Energy and Fuels (25) Mechanical Engineering (26) Mathematics (29) Engineering (45) Civil Engineering (43) Food Science and Technology (57) Artificial Intelligence (94) Pharmacology and Toxicology (84) Public, Environmental and Occupational Health (90) Water Resources (46) Sharif University of Technology Regarded as Iran's premier institute for engineering and technology, Sharif University is ranked 565 globally and third nationally. Its most prominent areas include: Mechanical Engineering (50) Civil Engineering (79) The university is well-known for its cutting-edge labs and strong research collaborations. Tehran University of Medical Sciences Ranked 588 globally and fifth in Iran, this university is a favored destination for Indian medical aspirants. It boasts over 2,000 international students and is renowned in: Pharmacology and Toxicology (27) Food Science and Technology (97) The institution has a strong focus on doctoral training and interdisciplinary medical research. Amirkabir University of Technology Ranked 712 globally and sixth in Iran, Amirkabir is a major player in engineering research. Its notable strength lies in: Polymer Science (41). With a strong research reputation, it continues to be a top choice for engineering and material science scholars. Tarbiat Modares University Positioned at 737 globally and seventh nationally, Tarbiat Modares is a postgraduate university excelling in: Water Resources courses. It has attained a global rank of 75 in offering this course It caters primarily to master's and PhD students, fostering high-level research in environmental and civil engineering fields. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Ranked 781 globally and eighth in Iran, this institution is another magnet for medical studies. It performs especially well in: Polymer Science (17) Pharmacology and Toxicology (64) Food Science and Technology (71) With over 3,400 international students, it has a strong international profile in health sciences. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Ranked 810 globally, this university has developed a solid research reputation in the medical field, especially in: Pharmacology and Toxicology (79) Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health (75) It has steadily grown into a respected center for public health and clinical research. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Closing the list at 841 globally and tenth in Iran, this institution offers focused medical education with growing international engagement. It is building its strengths in doctoral research and allied health sciences. For Indian students, Iran is becoming more than a historical or cultural neighbour, it is emerging as an affordable, academically credible destination for higher education. With universities like the University of Tehran and Islamic Azad University leading the way in global and subject-specific rankings, Iranian institutions are carving out a place on the global academic map. As rankings improve and research output expands, more Indian students are likely to consider Iran as a strategic educational option in the years ahead.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tears, cheers, relief at Delhi airport as Indians from Iran reunite with families
New Delhi: Anxious parents and family members broke into smiles of relief at 11.32 pm on Friday, as the arrival board at Indira Gandhi International Airport flashed news of the Mahan Airlines flight carrying around 290 Indians evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu landing. Walking out of Gate Number 6, some of the evacuees chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Hindustan Zindabad', while others broke down upon seeing their families (PTI) Around 10,000 Indians, many of them students, were in Iran when hostilities erupted over the weekend following Israel's air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Iran eased airspace restrictions for three charter flights to evacuate about 1,000 Indian nationals who were moved to safer places from Tehran, a senior Iranian diplomat had said on Friday. Walking out of gate number 6 of terminal 3, some of the evacuees chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Hindustan Zindabad', while others broke down upon seeing their families. 'Indian embassy officials made sure that we had a safe stay during our journey and proper supply of food and other necessities for all the passengers,' Sadiya Sheikh, a second-year MBBS (bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery) student of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, said. 'The evacuated students relatively had a safe exit from Tehran,' 22-year-old Sadiya added as she hugged her father Nikhat Sheikh at the Delhi airport. Srinagar resident Daud, who is a third-year MBBS student in Tehran, said that the rescue operation had started almost three to four days ago while Tehran was being bombed heavily. 'We had to board a bus to the city of Qom that is roughly 150 km from Tehran. From Qom we took a 14-hour bus journey to the city of Mashhad from where we boarded the plane,' the 21-year-old explained as he boarded a bus slated to take evacuees to Srinagar. Students recalled massive explosions they heard last week in Iran's national capital, especially during the night. (PTI) Students recalled massive explosions they heard last week in Iran's national capital, especially during the night. 'Rockets, drones were flying across the city of Tehran, there were huge explosions. Indian officials were with us through the entire process, guiding us through the entire journey,' Miftablal, a 22-year-old resident of Srinagar, told HT. Irtika, another third-year MBBS student of Islamic Azad University, said, 'There were multiple explosions, we did not know where or how they were happening in the city, we were peeking out of the window and could see trails of missiles in the night sky.' The 23-year-old resident of Jammu and Kashmir said that sounds of missiles and bombs exploding had created panic among students. 'As the war continues, our studies are halted and college is shut indefinitely. We don't know when we are going to return and start our course,' she added. Apart from students, the Mahan Airlines flight carried passengers who were on a pilgrimage visit to Iran. Syed Nazamul Hasan, a 44-year-old resident of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, had travelled to Mashhad on June 3 and was scheduled to return home on June 14. 'My flight got cancelled. My family was scared as they did not know when we were going to return,' he said. The second flight carrying Indian evacuees from Iran took two and a half hours and landed on Saturday morning. More flights might be operated in the coming days for others wishing to return to India.
NDTV
20-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
How Israel Is Targetting Key Iranian Nuclear Scientists
Atlanta: At least 14 nuclear scientists are believed to be among those killed in Israel's Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, 2025, ostensibly to destroy or degrade Iran's nuclear program and military capabilities. Deliberately targeting scientists in this way aims to disrupt Iran's knowledge base and continuity in nuclear expertise. Among those assassinated were Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a theoretical physicist and head of Iran's Islamic Azad University, and Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, a nuclear engineer who led Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Collectively, these experts in physics and engineering were potential successors to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, widely regarded as the architect of the Iranian nuclear program, who was assassinated in a November 2020 attack many blame on Israel. As two political scientists writing a book about state targeting of scientists as a counterproliferation tool, we understand well that nuclear scientists have been targeted since the nuclear age began. We have gathered data on nearly 100 instances of what we call "scientist targeting" from 1944 through 2025. The most recent assassination campaign against Iranian scientists is different from many of the earlier episodes in a few key ways. Israel's recent attack targeted multiple nuclear experts and took place simultaneously with military force to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, air defenses and energy infrastructure. Also, unlike previous covert operations, Israel immediately claimed responsibility for the assassinations. But our research indicates that targeting scientists may not be effective for counterproliferation. While removing individual expertise may delay nuclear acquisition, targeting alone is unlikely to destroy a program outright and could even increase a country's desire for nuclear weapons. Further, targeting scientists may trigger blowback given concerns regarding legality and morality. A policy with a long history Targeting nuclear scientists began during World War II when Allied and Soviet forces raced to capture Nazi scientists, degrade Adolf Hitler's ability to build a nuclear bomb and use their expertise to advance the US and Soviet nuclear programs. In our data set, we classified "targeting" as cases in which scientists were captured, threatened, injured or killed as nations tried to prevent adversaries from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Over time, at least four countries have targeted scientists working on nine national nuclear programs. The United States and Israel have allegedly carried out the most attacks on nuclear scientists. But the United Kingdom and Soviet Union have also been behind such attacks. Meanwhile, scientists working for the Egyptian, Iranian and Iraqi nuclear programs have been the most frequent targets since 1950. Since 2007 and prior to the current Israeli operation, 10 scientists involved in the Iranian nuclear program were killed in attacks. Other countries' nationals have also been targeted: In 1980, Mossad, Israel's intelligence service, allegedly bombed Italian engineer Mario Fiorelli's home and his firm, SNIA Techint, as a warning to Europeans involved in the Iraqi nuclear project. Given this history, the fact that Israel attacked Iran's nuclear program is not itself surprising. Indeed, it has been a strategic goal of successive Israeli prime ministers to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and experts had been warning of the increased likelihood of an Israeli military operation since mid-2024, due to regional dynamics and Iranian nuclear development. By then, the balance of power in the Middle East had changed dramatically. Israel systematically degraded the leadership and infrastructure of Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. It later destroyed Iranian air defenses around Tehran and near key nuclear installations. The subsequent fall of Syria's Assad regime cost Tehran another long-standing ally. Together, these developments have significantly weakened Iran, leaving it vulnerable to external attack and stripped of its once-feared proxy network, which had been expected to retaliate on its behalf in the event of hostilities. With its proxy "axis of resistance" defanged and conventional military capacity degraded, Iranian leadership may have thought that expanding its enrichment capability was its best bet going forward. And in the months leading up to Israel's recent attack, Iran expanded its nuclear production capacity, moving beyond 60% uranium enrichment, a technical step just short of weapons-grade material. During Donald Trump's first term, the president withdrew the US from a multilateral nonproliferation agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. After being reelected, Trump appeared to change tack by pursuing new diplomacy with Iran, but those talks have so far failed to deliver an agreement - and may be put on hold for the foreseeable future amid the war. Most recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors declared Iran in non-compliance with its nuclear-nonproliferation obligations. In response, Iran announced it was further expanding its enrichment capacity by adding advanced centrifuge technology and a third enrichment site. Even if the international community anticipated the broader attack on Iran, characteristics of the targeting itself are surprising. Historically, states have covertly targeted individual scientists. But the recent multiple-scientist attack occurred openly, with Israel taking responsibility, publicly indicating the attacks' purpose. Further, while it is not new for a country to use multiple counter-proliferation tools against an adversary over time, that Israel is using both preventive military force against infrastructure and targeting scientists at once is atypical. Additionally, such attacks against scientists are historically lower tech and low cost, with death or injury stemming from gunmen, car bombs or accidents. In fact, Abbasi - who was killed in the most recent attacks - survived a 2010 car bombing in Tehran. There are outliers, however, including the Fakhrizadeh assassination, which featured a remotely operated machine gun smuggled into Iranian territory. Israel's logic in going after scientists Why target nuclear scientists? In foreign policy, there are numerous tools available if one state aims to prevent another state from acquiring nuclear weapons. Alongside targeting scientists, there are sanctions, diplomacy, cyberattacks and military force. Targeting scientists may remove critical scientific expertise and impose costs that increase the difficulty of building nuclear weapons. Proponents argue that targeting these experts may undermine a state's efforts, deter it from continuing nuclear developments and signal to others the perils of supporting nuclear proliferation. Countries that target scientists therefore believe that doing so is an effective way to degrade an adversary's nuclear program. Indeed, the Israel Defense Forces described the most recent attacks as "a significant blow to the regime's ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction." Despite Israel's focus on scientists as sources of critical knowledge, there may be thousands more working inside Iran, calling into question the efficacy of targeting them. Further, there are legal, ethical and moral concerns over targeting scientists. Moreover, it is a risky option that may fail to disrupt an enemy nuclear program while sparking public outrage and calls for retaliation. This is especially the case if scientists, often regarded as civilians, are elevated as martyrs. Targeting campaigns may, as a result, reinforce domestic support for a government, which could then redouble efforts toward nuclear development. Regardless of whether targeting scientists is an effective counter-proliferation tool, it has been around since the start of the nuclear age - and will likely persist as part of the foreign policy toolkit for states aiming to prevent proliferation. In the case of the current Israeli conflict with Iran and its targeting of nuclear scientists, we expect the tactic to continue for the duration of the war and beyond. (Author: Jenna Jordan, Associate Professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology and Rachel Whitlark, Associate Professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology) (Disclaimer Statement: Rachel Whitlark is a nonresident senior fellow in the Forward Defense practice of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Jenna Jordan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.)
AllAfrica
20-06-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
The Israeli logic of assassinating Iran's nuclear scientists
At least 14 nuclear scientists are believed to be among those killed in Israel's Operation Rising Lion, launched on June 13, 2025, ostensibly to destroy or degrade Iran's nuclear program and military capabilities. Deliberately targeting scientists in this way aims to disrupt Iran's knowledge base and continuity in nuclear expertise. Among those assassinated were Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a theoretical physicist and head of Iran's Islamic Azad University, and Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, a nuclear engineer who led Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Collectively, these experts in physics and engineering were potential successors to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, widely regarded as the architect of the Iranian nuclear program, who was assassinated in a November 2020 attack many blame on Israel. As two political scientists writing a book about state targeting of scientists as a counterproliferation tool, we understand well that nuclear scientists have been targeted since the nuclear age began. We have gathered data on nearly 100 instances of what we call 'scientist targeting' from 1944 through 2025. The most recent assassination campaign against Iranian scientists is different from many of the earlier episodes in a few key ways. Israel's recent attack targeted multiple nuclear experts and took place simultaneously with military force to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, air defenses and energy infrastructure. Also, unlike previous covert operations, Israel immediately claimed responsibility for the assassinations. But our research indicates that targeting scientists may not be effective for counterproliferation. While removing individual expertise may delay nuclear acquisition, targeting alone is unlikely to destroy a program outright and could even increase a country's desire for nuclear weapons. Further, targeting scientists may trigger blowback given concerns regarding legality and morality. Targeting nuclear scientists began during World War II when Allied and Soviet forces raced to capture Nazi scientists, degrade Adolf Hitler's ability to build a nuclear bomb and use their expertise to advance the U.S. and Soviet nuclear programs. In our data set, we classified 'targeting' as cases in which scientists were captured, threatened, injured or killed as nations tried to prevent adversaries from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Over time, at least four countries have targeted scientists working on nine national nuclear programs. The United States and Israel have allegedly carried out the most attacks on nuclear scientists. But the United Kingdom and Soviet Union have also been behind such attacks. Meanwhile, scientists working for the Egyptian, Iranian and Iraqi nuclear programs have been the most frequent targets since 1950. Since 2007 and prior to the current Israeli operation, 10 scientists involved in the Iranian nuclear program were killed in attacks. Other countries' nationals have also been targeted: In 1980, Mossad, Israel's intelligence service, allegedly bombed Italian engineer Mario Fiorelli's home and his firm, SNIA Techint, as a warning to Europeans involved in the Iraqi nuclear project. Given this history, the fact that Israel attacked Iran's nuclear program is not itself surprising. Indeed, it has been a strategic goal of successive Israeli prime ministers to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and experts had been warning of the increased likelihood of an Israeli military operation since mid-2024, due to regional dynamics and Iranian nuclear development. The wrecked cars in which four of Iran's nuclear scientists were assassinated in recent years are displayed on the grounds of a museum in Tehran in 2014. Photo: Scott Peterson / Getty Images via The Conversation By then, the balance of power in the Middle East had changed dramatically. Israel systematically degraded the leadership and infrastructure of Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. It later destroyed Iranian air defenses around Tehran and near key nuclear installations. The subsequent fall of Syria's Assad regime cost Tehran another long-standing ally. Together, these developments have significantly weakened Iran, leaving it vulnerable to external attack and stripped of its once-feared proxy network, which had been expected to retaliate on its behalf in the event of hostilities. With its proxy 'axis of resistance' defanged and conventional military capacity degraded, Iranian leadership may have thought that expanding its enrichment capability was its best bet going forward. And in the months leading up to Israel's recent attack, Iran expanded its nuclear production capacity, moving beyond 60% uranium enrichment, a technical step just short of weapons-grade material. During Donald Trump's first term, the president withdrew the US from a multilateral nonproliferation agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. After being reelected, Trump appeared to change tack by pursuing new diplomacy with Iran, but those talks have so far failed to deliver an agreement and may be put on hold for the foreseeable future amid the war. Most recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors declared Iran in non-compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. In response, Iran announced it was further expanding its enrichment capacity by adding advanced centrifuge technology and a third enrichment site. Even if the international community anticipated the broader attack on Iran, characteristics of the targeting itself are surprising. Historically, states have covertly targeted individual scientists. But the recent multiple-scientist attack occurred openly, with Israel taking responsibility, publicly indicating the attacks' purpose. Further, while it is not new for a country to use multiple counter-proliferation tools against an adversary over time, that Israel is using both preventive military force against infrastructure and targeting scientists at once is atypical. Additionally, such attacks against scientists are historically lower tech and low cost, with death or injury stemming from gunmen, car bombs or accidents. In fact, Abbasi – who was killed in the most recent attacks – survived a 2010 car bombing in Tehran. There are outliers, however, including the Fakhrizadeh assassination, which featured a remotely operated machine gun smuggled into Iranian territory. Why target nuclear scientists? In foreign policy, there are numerous tools available if one state aims to prevent another state from acquiring nuclear weapons. Alongside targeting scientists, there are sanctions, diplomacy, cyberattacks and military force. Targeting scientists may remove critical scientific expertise and impose costs that increase the difficulty of building nuclear weapons. Proponents argue that targeting these experts may undermine a state's efforts, deter it from continuing nuclear developments and signal to others the perils of supporting nuclear proliferation. Countries that target scientists, therefore, believe that doing so is an effective way to degrade an adversary's nuclear program. Indeed, the Israel Defense Forces described the most recent attacks as 'a significant blow to the regime's ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction.' Posters featuring images of Iranian nuclear scientists are displayed in Tehran, Iran, on June 14, 2025. Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images / The Conversation Despite Israel's focus on scientists as sources of critical knowledge, there may be thousands more working inside Iran, calling into question the efficacy of targeting them. Further, there are legal, ethical and moral concerns over targeting scientists. Moreover, it is a risky option that may fail to disrupt an enemy nuclear program while sparking public outrage and calls for retaliation. This is especially the case if scientists, often regarded as civilians, are elevated as martyrs. Targeting campaigns may, as a result, reinforce domestic support for a government, which could then redouble efforts toward nuclear development. Regardless of whether targeting scientists is an effective counter-proliferation tool, it has been around since the start of the nuclear age – and will likely persist as part of the foreign policy toolkit for states aiming to prevent proliferation. In the case of the current Israeli conflict with Iran and its targeting of nuclear scientists, we expect the tactic to continue for the duration of the war and beyond. Jenna Jordan is associate professor of international affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology and Rachel Whitlark is associate professor of international affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Times of Oman
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Our skies were filled with drones, recall Indian students in Tehran
Tehran : As tensions continue to rise in West Asia, Indian students in Tehran recalled the initial hours of the conflict between Israel and Iran. Noting that around 140 Indian students were present at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences on the first day of military action by Israel, the students talked of the support provided by the senior officials of the varsity but also appealed for their evacuation in the wake of uncertainty over the situation amid rising tensions. Students ANI spoke to are pursuing MBBS at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Islamic Azad University and talked about their experience since the military action began. "The condition was getting worse here every minute," one of the students recalled. "On Friday dawn, at around 3:20 am, we heard a blast. It was a huge sound. When we looked out of our windows, there was black smoke and when we went downstairs, we heard more blasts," another student said. "After 2-3 hours, we heard boom of fighter jets. We have been really scared... Our skies were filled with the (Friday) evening to the next day's morning, we heard sounds continuously. There was a complete blackout and were sitting under the dormitory," the student added. The students said that they received support from the university authorities. "Our University (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) has been very helpful. As soon as the blasts happened, our Vice-Dean came to check upon us and calmed us. By the evening our Dean also arrived and assured us that nothing will happen. That was a very dangerous night which we faced. We don't have the heart to spend one more night here," a student said. The students, who come from different parts of India, have been pursuing their education for varied periods of time. The students said they have been in touch with the Indian Embassy and have been assured all support. The students said they want to be evacuated at the earliest. "We trust in India's power and really want to be evacuated," a student said. They recalled the government's efforts to bring back Indian students during Russia-Ukraine conflict. On Sunday, the Embassy of India in Iran issued several helpline numbers and created a Telegram Link for communication with Indian nationals currently in Iran. The Embassy shared details in a series of posts on X, saying that the Telegram link is "ONLY" for Indian nationals in Iran. "We request everyone in Iran to join the below given Telegram Link to receive updates on the situation from the Embassy. Kindly note that this Telegram Link is ONLY for those Indian Nationals who are currently in Iran. Asking the nationals not to give into panic, the Embassy asked people to exercise caution and remain in contact with the Embassy in Tehran. Tensions have been rising between Israel and Iran in West Asia. On June 13, Israel launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion". Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the "Iranian threat to Israel's very survival" adding that the mission would continue "for as many days as it takes to remove this threat." In response, Iranian News Agency IRNA said the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), in response to the Israeli aggression, has launched a large-scale drone and missile operation 'Operation True Promise 3' targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. The strikes were conducted in direct retaliation against Israeli "aggression".
