Minister of Education Alireza Kazemi expressed deep sorrow over the loss and emphasized the government’s commitment to education, noting President Massoud Pezeshkian’s direct involvement in education reform efforts.
“On the morning the ceasefire was declared, the president personally contacted me to follow up on educational affairs,” Kazemi stated. He added that the president believes “transformation in the country begins with transformation in education.”
Kazemi said the president’s education agenda includes two major pillars, namely improving educational quality and promoting justice in educational infrastructure.
In a related report, Iran’s academic sector suffered significant losses during the 12-day conflict. According to official figures, 16 university professors and 11 students were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Nine of the deceased were recognized specialists and graduates contributing to Iran’s intellectual community.
Authorities described these individuals as key parts of the nation’s academic and scientific backbone. “Their absence is not just the loss of names—it is the loss of human and intellectual capital,” a university statement read.
The Iranian Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a total of 627 people were martyred and 4,870 injured in the Israeli regime’s attacks with Tehran and Kermanshah provinces reporting the highest numbers of casualties.
