Tehran has fiercely condemned a recent United States military strike near a specialized children’s cancer hospital in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, labeling the operation a “cowardly war crime” and comparing the actions to military strikes on healthcare facilities in Gaza.
According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, the “barbaric” attack forced the emergency evacuation of 211 patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Shahid Baghaei Specialised Hospital.
Medical staff described a scene of sheer panic. One doctor on-site recalled that the blast was “intense” and “so close” that those inside initially believed the hospital itself had been directly targeted.
The strike placed highly vulnerable patients in immediate danger and forced medical staff to act rapidly. Dr. Majid Bou’azar, the hospital’s manager, confirmed that the 211 patients “were forced to relocate” as a direct result of the nearby explosions.
Another staff member described the chaotic scene:
“These are special patients, including cancer patients, who are hospitalised here … Some of the patients [were] on oxygen and ventilators,” they said, adding that, “Some people had children in their arms, some had IVs in their hands, and some were in wheelchairs.”
Hospital Director Reza Bazar reported that the nearby strikes have successfully knocked the facility out of service, halting critical care for children fighting terminal illnesses.
The incident has heightened global anxiety that the five-month-long conflict is rapidly spiraling out of control, potentially disrupting any path toward a permanent peace settlement.
While the United States has not formally commented on the hospital-adjacent strike, Washington confirmed it launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran. Meanwhile, Tehran retaliated by targeting US military installations in Jordan and Kuwait, keeping neighboring Gulf nations on high alert.
The rhetoric has continued to intensify:
US Position: President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iranian bridges and power plants next week if Tehran refuses to return to the negotiating table.
Iran’s Position: Tehran has warned it will respond symmetrically by targeting civilian infrastructure in neighboring Gulf countries.
Regional Reactions: Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s strikes in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, calling them “treacherous.” While Iran maintains it only targets US military assets, evidence suggests its retaliatory strikes have also damaged civilian infrastructure in the Gulf.
Under international law, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure is illegal and generally classified as a war crime. Iranian officials have used the incident to accuse Western nations of holding a double standard when it comes to international humanitarian law.
Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated:
“This barbaric attack, reminiscent of Israel’s atrocities against healthcare facilities, caused severe suffering and anxiety upon the hospitalised children, and forced the emergency evacuation,” he said. “This constitutes a cowardly war crime against the most innocent of human beings – children who are bravely fighting for their lives.”
He further criticized what Tehran views as selective morality:
“Those who ceaselessly preach human rights, yet deliberately turn a blind eye to the targeting of hospitals and health centres, have forfeited every shred of moral credibility,”
This stance was echoed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who condemned the US actions on Telegram, calling them “undoubtedly a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law.”
According to local reports, the conflict has taken an immense toll on healthcare infrastructure, with Iranian officials reporting that 17 hospitals have been severely damaged during the current war and a previous conflict last June.
The proximity of the strike to the pediatric ward has revived painful memories for the local population.
Analysts note that the incident closely mirrors the tragedy at the Minab primary school in southern Iran, which was bombed on the first day of the war, resulting in the deaths of at least 168 children.
Amnesty International previously investigated the school bombing, concluding that Washington was responsible and describing the tragedy as:
“a shameful intelligence failure” at best, and at worst, “a reckless and indiscriminate attack.”
Democratic senators in the US are currently pressuring the Trump administration to release the findings of an internal investigation into the school incident within the week.
