Israel said on Wednesday it had launched an attack on an Iranian pharmaceutical factory it claimed was supplying fentanyl for use in its chemical weapons program, a charge Tehran denies.Iran confirmed the attack on the Tofigh Daru factory but said the plant only produces “hospital medicines” used in medical procedures. Both sides said the strike occurred on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared an image of the site on X and said: “Israeli war criminals are now brazenly and shamelessly bombing pharmaceutical companies.”Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid widely used in hospitals to treat severe pain, but even small amounts can be fatal.
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What should the international community prioritize in such conflicts?
In recent years, Israel and the United States have expressed concerns about Iran exploring the use of fentanyl in weapons. Washington also noted that Iranian academic research is investigating Russia’s use of fentanyl-like drugs during the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis.Israel said the targeted facilities supplied fentanyl to a research institute in Tehran called SPND, which the United States says carries out work related to nuclear explosive devices and other weapons.
