An article published in The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, has warned that damage to Iran’s Pasteur Institute during the Israel–U.S. war on the Islamic Republic poses a “serious threat to regional health security.”
The authors also called for international support to restore the institute’s capabilities, according to the website of the Pasteur Institute of Iran, which published the article.
“Following the airstrikes in the spring of this year, the Pasteur Institute of Iran, with a history of more than a century, has suffered severe damage.
“This institute has played a key role in vaccine production, disease diagnosis, genomic surveillance, and responses to pandemics such as COVID-19, cholera, rabies, hepatitis and AIDS,” the article said.
The Pasteur Institute of Iran was established in 1920 under an agreement between the Iranian government and the Pasteur Institute of Paris.
The article noted that years of sanctions had already weakened Iran’s healthcare system prior to the attacks.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, restrictions resulting from sanctions hindered access to genomic surveillance equipment,” it said.
The authors warned that the destruction of the Pasteur Institute went beyond a temporary disruption, saying it had “inflicted damage on a fundamental public health institution.”
Iran strongly condemned the air raids on the Pasteur Institute of Iran in April.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the attack was “beyond a war crime” and amounted to an assault on the fundamental principles of humanity and civilisation.
“The U.S.-Israeli air raids on the Pasteur Institute of Iran - one of the oldest and most renowned research and public health centres in Iran and the Middle East - was a heartbreaking, brutal, and deeply inhumane act,” he said.
The authors also called on the international health community to provide comprehensive support for the full restoration of the institute’s laboratory, diagnostic, surveillance, and vaccine production capabilities.
“This is not only a national issue but also a serious threat to the health security of the entire region,” they said, expressing deep concern.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 14th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
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