Speaking at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, Zafarqandi thanked the World Health Organization and Egypt for hosting the event.

He said over the past year, Iran’s health system faced exceptional challenges, including unfair sanctions and a 12-day military attack.

He noted that the assault targeted civilian and medical infrastructure, causing the deaths of innocent women, children, and dedicated healthcare workers.

Zafarqandi said that, as documented in recent Lancet publications, sanctions have operated as a silent war on public health, systematically blocking access to essential medicines and inflicting suffering and death among the most vulnerable, particularly children.

He added that research has shown fatalities caused by sanctions equal or even exceed those of conventional wars.

Referring to the catastrophic health crisis in Gaza, he condemned the destruction and blockade of medical facilities as a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

He called for global support to rebuild Gaza’s health infrastructure.

Despite economic pressure and sanctions, Zafarqandi said Iran remains committed to strengthening its primary healthcare network to achieve universal health coverage, empower communities against non-communicable diseases, address population aging and its health impacts, and tackle social determinants of health such as poverty and environmental factors.

He urged the WHO and its member states to defend health from political coercion and sanctions while promoting regional solidarity to confront crises and climate challenges.

Zafarqandi concluded that Iran remains dedicated to health diplomacy, emphasizing that health is “the strongest bridge to peace and sustainable development.”