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Iran condemns US strike near Ahvaz cancer hospital — AI-generated representative image of a hospital evacuation scene in Ahvaz after reports of a strike nearby.

Editorial Team

Tehran calls it a war crime as Baghaei Hospital evacuates chemotherapy patients

Iran accused the United States on Thursday of carrying out a “barbaric” strike near a children’s cancer hospital in Ahvaz, prompting the evacuation of 211 patients undergoing chemotherapy from Shahid Baghaei Specialised Hospital. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the incident as a “cowardly war crime.”

A doctor at the centre said the explosion was so intense and so close that staff initially believed the hospital itself had been hit.

The claims add to rising regional alarm that the conflict could expand further and derail efforts to reach a negotiated settlement. The incident has also intensified scrutiny over the protection of civilians and medical facilities during the fighting, with Iran drawing direct comparisons to attacks on healthcare sites elsewhere in the region.

The United States has not publicly commented on the alleged strike near the hospital.

Key Developments in Ahvaz and the Wider Conflict

Baghaei said 211 chemotherapy patients were evacuated from Shahid Baghaei Specialised Hospital in Ahvaz after a US strike hit nearby.
Dr Majid Bou’azar, the hospital’s manager, said the patients were forced to relocate because of the strikes.
A staff member described evacuations involving patients on oxygen and ventilators, as well as people carrying children, patients with IV lines, and those using wheelchairs.
Hospital director Reza Bazar said attacks on Ahvaz had put the hospital out of service, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.
Washington said it launched another wave of attacks on Iran on Thursday, while Tehran said it targeted US military sites in Jordan and Kuwait.

Background to Escalation and Regional Warnings

The conflict began almost five months ago, and recent attacks have deepened concern that hostilities could spiral beyond current battlegrounds. Gulf leaders remain on high alert amid fears of broader escalation and potential damage to civilian infrastructure across the region.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges next week if Tehran does not return to talks. Iran has warned that it would respond by targeting civilian infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf countries. Under international law, deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure are illegal and, in many cases, constitute war crimes.

Iranian officials have also pointed to earlier traumatic incidents. Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran for Al Jazeera, said an attack near the Ahvaz hospital revived memories of the bombing of the Minab primary school in southern Iran on the first day of the war, which he said killed at least 168 children.

Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province near Iraq and the northern Gulf, is a strategic hub for Iran’s oil, petrochemical and industrial infrastructure. The province’s proximity to key energy corridors and its history of periodic unrest, including tensions involving Khuzestan’s Arab minority, have made the area a long-standing security focus for Tehran.

Statements and Claims Cited by Iranian Officials

Baghaei said the strike near the hospital caused “severe suffering and anxiety” among hospitalised children and forced an emergency evacuation, comparing the incident to Israel’s actions against healthcare facilities in Gaza. He argued that countries face uneven expectations over compliance with international law, criticising what he called a double standard between the Global South and Global North.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the allegation in a Telegram post on Thursday, accusing Washington of “war crimes” and describing attacks on civilian infrastructure as a “flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law.”

Separately, Tehran has faced its own accusations of violating the laws of war. Saudi Arabia described Iran’s strikes in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait as “treacherous.” Iran maintains it has targeted only US military assets, though evidence has emerged suggesting Iranian strikes have also damaged civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries.

Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences said explosions occurred near “Baghaei 2 Hospital,” describing it as a hematology and oncology specialty center, and reported the facility was temporarily taken out of service for safety. Iranian media reports carried by multiple outlets said patients were moved to other facilities after blasts in the vicinity, while some coverage reported no deaths and no material damage to the hospital unit itself.

Current Status and What to Watch Next

Evidence cited in the reporting suggests the United States was responsible for the strike near the Ahvaz hospital, though Washington has not addressed the allegation publicly. Democratic senators are pressuring the Trump administration to release the results of an investigation into the Minab school incident within the next week.

Amnesty International has concluded Washington was responsible for the Minab attack, calling it either a “shameful intelligence failure” or a “reckless and indiscriminate attack.” Further official information on the Ahvaz incident remains awaited.