Arabic version: الرئيس الإيراني يدعو إلى اتخاذ إجراءات ضد الهجمات على الرعاية الصحية

The United States and Israel have carried out multiple attacks on medical facilities in the course of their war on Iran. On April 3, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appealed to international health organizations to respond to attacks on medical facilities in Iran, including the Pasteur Institute in capital Tehran, a key centre that Iranian officials said had been targeted that day. According to Al Jazeera, at least 2,076 individuals have lost their lives and over 26,500 have been wounded since strikes began on February 28.

Pezeshkian expressed deep concern over the implications of targeting hospitals and medical research centers, specifically referencing the Pasteur Institute in Tehran, which was reportedly attacked on the same day. The institute has been a cornerstone of public health in Iran since its establishment in 1920 and plays a critical role in vaccine production and disease research.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified over 20 attacks on healthcare facilities in Iran since March 1, resulting in at least nine deaths, including that of an infectious diseases health worker and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Notable strikes have included an attack on the Tofigh Daru Research and Engineering Company, one of Iran’s largest pharmaceutical firms, and damage to the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital and Ali Hospital in Khuzestan province.

International humanitarian law states that health establishments and units, including hospitals, should not be attacked, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The WHO has documented a troubling increase in such incidents globally, highlighting the urgent need for adherence to these legal protections.