Recent military actions have raised significant concerns regarding the safety of healthcare facilities in Iran, as ongoing conflict has targeted critical institutions vital for public health. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned these assaults, emphasizing the need for international health organizations to respond to such egregious violations of humanitarian law. As the toll of both casualties and damaged healthcare infrastructure continues to rise, the situation calls attention to the longstanding debate surrounding the protection of health services in conflict zones.
The United States and Israel have carried out numerous attacks on medical facilities as part of their ongoing conflict with Iran. In a recent appeal, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian implored international health organizations to address these attacks, which he characterized as violations of humanitarian principles. The Pasteur Institute, located in Tehran and recognized as a leading center for biomedical research in the region, was notably targeted. This strike is part of a broader pattern of assaults on healthcare that has resulted in significant casualties and injuries across the country.
As reported, over 2,076 individuals have been killed and approximately 26,500 wounded in Iran since the U.S. and Israel initiated strikes against the nation on February 28. Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon by trade, took to social media to query the motives behind targeting such essential facilities, including hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. He issued a stark call to global health bodies, urging them to act against what he termed “crimes against humanity.”
The Pasteur Institute, established in 1920 through collaboration with the Pasteur Institute in Paris, is among the oldest and most prestigious research centers in Iran and the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described the attack as “heartbreaking, cruel, despicable, and utterly outrageous,” reaffirming the institution’s role in combating infectious diseases and contributing to Iran’s immunization programs.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, acknowledged the ongoing conflict’s detrimental impact on healthcare infrastructure, stating that it hinders access to essential health services and puts both health workers and patients at grave risk. According to WHO data, more than 20 verified attacks on health care in Iran since March have resulted in at least nine deaths, including that of medical personnel.
Additional healthcare facilities have also sustained damage. A drone strike recently targeted a Red Crescent relief warehouse in Bushehr province, destroying critical relief supplies, although no casualties were reported. The Tofigh Daru Research and Engineering Company, one of Iran’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, faced a similar fate, and the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital suffered significant damage during a strike in Tehran. Other facilities, including Ali Hospital and Gandhi Hospital, have also been affected, raising alarms about the safety of patients and medical staff alike.
International humanitarian law clearly protects medical establishments from attack, and the United Nations Security Council has previously condemned violence against healthcare. Nevertheless, recent years have witnessed an alarming increase in such assaults globally, highlighting urgent needs for stronger protections for health services in conflict areas.
Moreover, Israel’s military activities are not confined to Iranian territories. Reports indicate that healthcare facilities in Lebanon and Gaza have also been targeted, resulting in numerous casualties and damage to crucial medical infrastructure, further complicating the humanitarian landscape in the region. These acts against healthcare prompt acute concerns about the viability of medical assistance in conflict scenarios and the broader implications for public health.
The situation in Iran serves as a critical reminder of the importance of safeguarding healthcare services amid armed conflict, emphasizing the necessity for international cooperation to uphold humanitarian standards and protect vulnerable populations.
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