Iran’s Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi announced new figures on Monday. The attacks on health centers during the recent war reached 240 strikes. These U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged at least 50 hospitals. Nearly 50 emergency centers also suffered damage from the bombardment. Therefore, attacks on health centers represent a major violation of medical neutrality.
Zafarghandi provided these statistics during a press briefing. He noted that 40,000 people received free medical treatment. Health facilities across Iran provided these services during the conflict. Many patients could not afford care due to the war’s economic impact. The attacks on health centers worsened, accordingly, an already difficult situation.
The minister also addressed mental health consequences of the war. Some people developed serious psychological conditions from the attacks. Trauma from bombings affected both children and adults. The health ministry has established, therefore, special counseling programs. The attacks on health centers created, after all, a mental health crisis as well.
Zafarghandi stressed that health diplomacy remains a national priority. Scientific interactions help maintain Iran’s medical position globally. Professor and student exchanges provide valuable knowledge transfer. International cooperation supports, therefore, the development of specialized medical fields. The attacks on health centers have not stopped, however, Iran’s diplomatic efforts.
Past international cooperation helped launch specialized medical programs in Iran. These collaborations brought advanced training to Iranian doctors. Medical exchanges benefited both Iran and its partner nations. The health minister wants, consequently, to resume these programs soon. The recent war interrupted, unfortunately, many ongoing medical partnerships.
The US and Israel started their aerial aggression on February 28. This attack occurred eight months after previous unprovoked strikes. The aggression led to the death of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Tehran and Washington had held three rounds of indirect talks previously. These negotiations occurred in Muscat and Geneva before the war.
The two sides had planned technical talks in Vienna as well. The US-Israeli attacks disrupted, therefore, those diplomatic efforts. Iran responded swiftly with missile and drone strikes. Iranian forces targeted Israeli-occupied territories in retaliation. US bases and interests in regional countries also faced attacks.
Iran launched barrages of retaliatory strikes against both adversaries. The conflict escalated rapidly following the initial US-Israeli bombings. A two-week ceasefire eventually took effect on April 8. Washington received a ten-point proposal from Tehran for this truce. The attacks on health centers occurred, therefore, before this ceasefire agreement.
President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire on April 22. The original truce was set to expire that same day. Trump extended it hours before the deadline. The U.S. naval blockade against Iran, however, continues. The attacks on health centers have stopped, but the blockade remains active.
Zafarghandi noted that many hospitals require significant repairs. Some facilities cannot operate at full capacity yet. Emergency centers need new equipment and supplies. The health ministry has requested international aid for reconstruction. The attacks on health centers caused, therefore, lasting damage to Iran’s medical infrastructure.
International humanitarian organizations have documented these strikes. The World Health Organization received reports from Iranian authorities. The United Nations has called for protecting medical facilities. Attacking hospitals violates, after all, international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit such strikes on health centers.
The Iranian health ministry has begun repairing damaged facilities. Construction crews are working on the 50 damaged hospitals. Emergency centers are receiving priority attention for repairs. Temporary medical units are serving communities during reconstruction. The attacks on health centers will require, therefore, months of recovery work.
The coming months will focus on rebuilding medical infrastructure. Iran seeks international partnerships for this reconstruction effort. Health diplomacy will play a key role in recovery. The attacks on health centers have highlighted, accordingly, the need for stronger protections. Medical neutrality must become, after all, a universally respected principle.