Medicine Under Siege: The Hidden Casualty of US-Iran Tensions

The recent escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran has led to a humanitarian crisis that extends far beyond food shortages and civilian displacement. A lesser-known consequence is the growing medicine shortage in Iran, which has reached critical levels.

Farah, a 59-year-old Tehran resident, had to switch to an Iranian-made version of her autoimmune medication when foreign supplies became scarce and prices skyrocketed. She now worries about even more severe shortages of the domestic alternative. “You can’t keep switching between medications,” she said in an interview with Al Jazeera. “They don’t have the same quality and effectiveness.”

Iran’s pharmaceutical sector has traditionally been self-sustaining, capable of manufacturing active ingredients, equipment, and finished drugs domestically. However, it still relies heavily on imports for critical components, which have become increasingly difficult to procure due to US sanctions and a naval blockade. As a result, prices of essential medications like gabapentin, acetaminophen, and amoxicillin have surged by as much as 375 percent in the past year.

The conflict with Israel has further exacerbated this crisis. The Israeli military targeted over 40 pharmaceutical companies, including Tofigh Daru, which is owned by Iran’s largest pension fund. Maryam Farahani, the company’s director of sales, revealed that the strikes destroyed its research and production lines, as well as databases and server sites containing years of accumulated knowledge.

The humanitarian implications are severe. With shortages affecting 800 pharmaceutical products nationwide, including 90 considered essential and life-saving, Iranians are being forced to choose between medicine and food. The government’s claim that the sector is “refusing to collapse under pressure” rings hollow in light of these devastating statistics.

The US’s “maximum pressure” sanctions have crippled Iran’s ability to import medical supplies, while the naval blockade has driven up costs and disrupted logistics. As the crisis deepens, it becomes increasingly clear that the pharmaceutical sector is a collateral casualty of the ongoing conflict.

Iran’s healthcare system is facing an uncertain future as the government struggles to maintain supply chains and prevent further shortages. The resilience displayed by officials in the face of these challenges is admirable, but it will take more than rhetoric to address the root causes of this crisis. As the situation unfolds, one question remains: how long can this fragile ecosystem hold out against the pressure?