- Conflict risks spreading, impacting energy markets and shipping.
Iran has accused the United States of carrying out a “barbaric attack” after a cancer hospital in the country’s southwest was forced to evacuate hundreds of patients following nearby heavy air strikes. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said 211 patients undergoing chemotherapy had to be moved, describing the incident as reminiscent of Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities. The US did not immediately respond to the allegation. The accusation comes amid fears that the escalating conflict could spread beyond the Gulf and disrupt key global energy and shipping routes.
Hospital Evacuated
In a post on X, Baghaei condemned what he described as a “barbaric attack”, claiming the strikes caused severe distress to children receiving treatment at the hospital.
He said 211 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy had to be evacuated after the nearby bombardment.
The remarks mark a sharp escalation in Tehran’s rhetoric against Washington as tensions continue to rise following a series of military exchanges between the two countries.
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Conflict Risks Wider Fallout
The latest developments have intensified concerns across the Gulf that any US strike on Iran’s civilian or energy infrastructure could trigger retaliation against critical facilities across the region.
Iran has also reportedly warned Yemen’s Houthi movement to be prepared to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the US targets its power infrastructure. The strategic waterway links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors connecting Asia and Europe.
The threat has already rattled energy markets. Brent crude rose more than 1 per cent to around $85.88 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed to about $80.49, reflecting fears of potential disruptions to global oil supplies.
Iran has also warned that any US attack on its infrastructure would invite retaliation against strategic assets across the Middle East.
Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Tehran would not tolerate any American intervention in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the risk of a broader regional confrontation.
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