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Reports from Iran indicate that Tofiq Darou Research and Production Company, a pharmaceutical facility located in Vardavard in western Tehran, was destroyed in an airstrike early this morning. The attack followed a warning issued by the Israeli military approximately one hour earlier, identifying a specific zone for evacuation.
The targeted area reportedly included multiple civilian and medical-related facilities, among them Tofiq Darou, Zagros Pharmed pharmaceutical company, the printing house of the Islamic Republic newspaper, and a charitable outpatient surgical center in Vardavard. The strike occurred shortly after 7:00 a.m. local time.
Tofiq Darou is known as a producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the treatment of serious illnesses, including cancer and multiple sclerosis, raising significant concerns about the humanitarian consequences of the attack. The destruction of such facilities may directly affect access to life-saving medicines for vulnerable patient populations.
Iranian officials strongly condemned the strike. Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described the attack as part of a broader pattern, stating that “after a month of war crimes, a pharmaceutical producer, including cancer drug materials, has now been deliberately targeted.” While such claims require independent verification, they underscore the gravity of the allegations.
In a separate incident, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization condemned what it described as a U.S.-Israeli attack on a civilian aircraft carrying medicines and medical equipment, which had landed at Mashhad Airport. The organization emphasized that targeting civilian aircraft engaged in humanitarian missions constitutes a clear violation of international aviation law and humanitarian principles.
According to Mohammad Hashemi, spokesperson for Iran’s Food and Drug Organization, the damage extends beyond a single facility. He reported that eight pharmaceutical factories across the country have sustained partial or complete damage, alongside multiple medical equipment manufacturers, including facilities in Isfahan’s Health City, SA Iran’s medical equipment division, and other provinces.
Hashemi further noted that a key factory producing essential disposable medical supplies used in intensive care units and operating rooms was also damaged, potentially affecting critical healthcare services. Additionally, a pharmaceutical and infant formula warehouse in Hamadan Province—serving two neighboring provinces—was completely destroyed, and several distribution companies have faced disruptions in workforce and logistics.
Despite the scale of the damage, Iranian authorities claim that most affected facilities continue to operate at reduced capacity, and mitigation strategies—including redistribution, alternative supply routes, and emergency imports—have so far prevented widespread shortages of medicines and medical supplies. However, such contingency measures may not be sustainable if attacks continue.
From a legal perspective, these incidents raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law (IHL). Under Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, civilian objects, including medical and pharmaceutical facilities, are protected from attack unless they are being used for military purposes. Even in such cases, parties must adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
Furthermore, the reported targeting of a civilian aircraft involved in humanitarian transport may constitute a violation of international aviation law. Under the Chicago Convention (1944) and the Montreal Convention (1971), any act endangering the safety of civilian aircraft is considered an international offense. If confirmed, such actions could also qualify as war crimes, particularly if the aircraft was engaged in a humanitarian mission.
The cumulative impact of these incidents—particularly the targeting of pharmaceutical production, medical supply chains, and humanitarian transport—raises urgent concerns about the protection of civilians and access to healthcare in conflict settings. International organizations and human rights bodies may seek to independently investigate these allegations, assess compliance with international law, and ensure accountability where violations are established.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has called on international bodies to urgently investigate these incidents, prosecute those responsible, and take measures to prevent further threats to civilian aviation and humanitarian operations.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) unequivocally condemns these latest attacks. Targeting or endangering civilian medical infrastructure and humanitarian supply chains is unacceptable and risks exacerbating human suffering among ordinary Iranians, particularly patients dependent on life-saving treatments. We emphasize the urgent need for strict adherence to international humanitarian law, protection of civilian objects, and urgent de-escalation, while calling on all parties to avoid actions that collectively punish civilians or undermine access to essential healthcare.