WHO Warns of Attacks on Iranian Healthcare Facilities, Pasteur Institute Rendered Inoperable

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over a series of attacks on Iranian healthcare facilities since March 1, according to a recent statement by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In a post on X, Tedros confirmed that "multiple attacks" on Iran's health infrastructure have been reported, with the Pasteur Institute in Tehran suffering "significant damage" and being rendered unable to continue critical health services. The Pasteur Institute, one of the oldest research and health facilities in the country, has long been a cornerstone of medical innovation, including vaccine production and infectious disease research.

Iran's Ministry of Health spokesperson, Hossein Kermanpour, shared images on X showing the facility's devastation, with parts of the building reduced to rubble. Despite the damage, Iranian state media, including ISNA news agency, claimed that "services of the Pasteur Institute have not been interrupted" and that vaccine and serum production would continue. "Fortunately, none of the employees of the Pasteur Institute in Iran were harmed in the recent attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime," ISNA added in a Telegram post. Tedros emphasized the Institute's vital role in public health, stating it "plays an important role in protecting and promoting population health, including in emergencies."

The attacks extend beyond the Pasteur Institute. WHO confirmed that the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital and the Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical facility were also damaged, though no casualties were reported at those sites. An explosion near Imam Ali Hospital in Khuzestan province forced the facility's evacuation and halted its services entirely. Since March 1, WHO has verified over 20 attacks on Iranian healthcare infrastructure, resulting in at least nine deaths, including an infectious diseases health worker and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Iran's Mehr news agency, citing the Red Crescent, reported another strike on a laser and plasma research facility at Shaid Beheshti University, while the Red Crescent Society confirmed that its warehouse was targeted, destroying relief containers and vehicles. "Communities on all sides are already paying a heavy price since the escalation of hostilities," the organization stated, stressing that "humanitarian workers, ambulances, relief supplies and humanitarian facilities must be respected and protected." These attacks violate the Geneva Conventions, which explicitly protect healthcare facilities during conflicts.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent, 307 health, medical, and emergency care facilities have been damaged since the war began. The destruction has raised concerns among international experts about the long-term impact on public health in Iran. "Targeting healthcare infrastructure undermines the ability of nations to respond to crises and protect vulnerable populations," said a WHO official in a recent briefing. The organization has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting medical facilities, urging all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who was reelected and sworn in on January 20, 2025, has taken a hardline stance on Iran. In a recent interview, Trump claimed that the US could "take the oil" in Iran if given more time, despite criticism over his administration's role in escalating tensions. His policies, however, have drawn mixed reactions. While some experts praise his domestic agenda, others criticize his foreign policy for prioritizing economic warfare through tariffs and sanctions. "Trump's approach risks deepening regional instability and harming innocent civilians," said Dr. Laura Chen, a conflict analyst at the International Peace Institute.

As the conflict continues, the humanitarian toll grows. Iranian officials have repeatedly condemned the attacks, calling them acts of war against civilian infrastructure. "These strikes are not only illegal but also inhumane," said Kermanpour. "They target the very systems that keep our people alive during crises." The WHO and other international bodies continue to push for diplomatic solutions, urging all parties to prioritize the safety of healthcare workers and facilities. For now, the people of Iran bear the brunt of a war that shows no signs of abating.