Joint Press Release
Iranian‑Canadian Congress & Iranians United for Palestine

Date: 7 March 2026

Unwavering Condemnation of Systematic Attacks on Healthcare Institutions and Critical Infrastructure in Iran

The Iranian Canadian Congress and Iranians United for Palestine unequivocally condemn the systematic and ruthless attacks on healthcare institutions and critical infrastructure in Iran led by US-Israel forces.

Recent assaults have left indelible scars, severely damaging vital medical facilities such as Khatam Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, and various rehabilitation and welfare centers. Reports detail that patients have been injured as hospital structures collapsed during strikes, with the Valiasr Burn Hospital rendered completely inoperable.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has confirmed 13 assaults on healthcare in Iran, alongside attacks on four ambulances resulting in the tragic deaths of four healthcare workers and injuries to 25 others. The targeting of the Iranian Red Crescent, a humanitarian organization, exposes the depths of this barbarism, endangering medics and undermining humanitarian efforts.

This callous campaign echoes Israel's normalized assaults on healthcare systems, relentlessly targeting of several healthcare institution in Gaza during its genocidal actions. The precedent set by these heinous acts has emboldened aggressors to continue their assault on vulnerable populations, with little regard for human life or dignity.

The existing humanitarian crisis is compounded by indirect sanctions, rendering medications scarce in Iran. While the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) claims "medicine and medical devices" are technically exempt from sanctions, the draconian licensing and shipping processes serve only to restrict access further. This leads to devastating medicine shortages, skyrocketing prices, and loss of life due to interrupted supplies.

In addition to healthcare facilities, recent attacks on a desalination plant in Qeshm Island and an oil refinery outside of Tehran make clear that this aggression knows no bounds. These assaults aim not only at eradicating essential services, but also at instilling fear and despair in the Iranian populace.

Furthermore, the assault on education cannot be overlooked. Multiple schools have been attacked in Iran, culminating in the tragic school massacre in Minab, where over 160 casualties were reported killed and many more injured, most of whom are elementary school-aged girls. Such actions are a disgrace to humanity and must be met with unyielding global condemnation.

This war against Iran is illegal, breaching both U.S. domestic policy—which requires Congressional approval for military action—and several tenets of international law, including the United Nations Charter (Article 2, Section 4), which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and the Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians in times of conflict.

The impact extends beyond the immediate region; the WHO’s logistics hub for global health emergencies in Dubai is currently paralyzed due to ongoing insecurity, airspace closures and restrictions affecting access to the strait of Hormuz. This facility, having processed over 500 emergency orders for 75 countries last year, is essential for global health efforts.

We also wish to address Mark Carney’s contradicting statements regarding Canada's potential involvement in this illegal war. During the World Economic Forum in Davos, he emphasized the importance of adhering to a "rules-based international order." In light of this, we respectfully urge Canada to refrain from participating in actions that contravene international law and instead uphold its commitment to peace and diplomacy. Canada has the opportunity to lead by example, prioritizing humanitarian values and rejecting any involvement in aggressive military actions just as it appropriately did so in the US-UK led war on Iraq in 2003.

The international community must act swiftly and decisively to put an end to these violent and murderous assaults on healthcare and critical infrastructure. We must protect the innocent lives of civilians—especially the children and the vulnerable—from such overwhelming brutality.

International Women’s Day serves as a poignant reminder of the decades-long struggle for
equality, justice, and human dignity. Iranian women have long been at the forefront of
advocating for justice and freedom. They have demonstrated their capabilities and excellence
across diverse fields, including science, culture, and sports. In universities and research
institutions, thousands of Iranian women serve as professors, researchers, and students,
playing a vital role in advancing knowledge and scientific progress. In many academic
disciplines, women make up a significant portion of the scientific community. In the fields of arts
and sports, the achievements of Iranian women and girls not only exceed regional and Asian
levels but also hold a respected place on the global stage.

However, today, as the shadow of war and violence falls over the people of Iran, these
achievements are more vulnerable than ever. War not only threatens the lives of civilians but
also destroys the social and civic structures that support the advancement of women’s rights.
The experience of many countries has shown that during times of war and its aftermath,
women’s rights are often pushed aside, violence increases, and educational, economic, and
social opportunities for women become severely restricted. Over the past week alone, several
sports facilities, including the 12,000-seat indoor stadium that serves as a major training
and preparation center for Iran’s national women’s teams, have been destroyed.

For years, women in Iran have courageously worked toward achieving peaceful change and
improving the lives of themselves and their communities. The continuation of war and instability
not only deepens human suffering but also undermines these civil efforts and aspirations.
On International Women’s Day, we honor the memory and efforts of all women who have
struggled, and continue to struggle, for dignity and equality. At the same time, we emphasize
that peace, security, and stability are essential prerequisites for advancing women’s rights and
realizing social justice. Today, more than ever, the voices of women of Iran calling for peace,
life, and human dignity must be heard.

Below is a brief list of some recent achievements of Iranian women and girls:

- Over 800 international medals won by Iranian women athletes in a single year across
various global and regional competitions.
https://en.jahanbanou.ir/iranian-women-win-868-international-medals-in-one-year/

- In a period of roughly 16 months, Iranian women athletes secured more than 1,000
international medals, demonstrating a major rise in women’s sports participation and
success.
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/522440/Iranian-women-athletes-emerge-as-a-
driving-force

- At the Islamic Solidarity Games, Iranian women athletes won 27 medals (9 gold, 4
silver, 14 bronze), making them one of the most successful women’s teams at the
event.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/11/25/759458/islamic-solidarity-games-2025-iranian-
athletes-meteoric-rise-impressive-medal-haul

- The Iranian women’s canoe polo team reached the world stage and ranked among the
leading teams internationally.

https://www.theworldgames.org/news/TWG-2025-floating-in-the-air-moment-for-
Shabani-2751

- Iranian female athletes have also achieved notable successes in Paralympic and para-
sports competitions, including global recognition and medal wins.
https://iranpress.com/content/294903/iran-para-archery-athlete-nominated-for-2024-
best-female-para-archer-award

These achievements highlight the determination, talent, and resilience of Iranian women's
progress that must not be endangered by war and violence.

President of Iranian Canadian Congress, Mona Ghassemi has sent the following letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, Foreign affairs Minister and Minister of National defense regarding the US-Israeli war on Iran

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4462/attachments/original/1772651488/Iranian_Canadian_Congress_letter_to_Prime_Minister-Signed.pdf?1772651488

The Iranian Canadian Congress is deeply saddened by and condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal attacks and declaration of war by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. This flagrant violation of international law is an escalation based on bad-faith negotiations. These negotiations, in which Iran was threatened with war if it did not meet excessive demands, included pressure to give up the right to conventional defense capabilities (its missile defense system) enshrined in article 51 of the UN charter. In the last 48 hours, we know that several government officials were killed, including the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, several of whose family members, including a 14-month-old granddaughter, were not spared. We are devastated to learn of multiple civilian and civilian infrastructure casualties, including hospitals and clinics, medical and humanitarian facilities of the Red Crescent, sports teams and grounds, and schools.  
 
In particular, we unequivocally condemn the horrific bombing of the Shajareh Tayebbeh girls’ elementary school in the Southern Iranian town of Minab, Hormozgan province. This bombing on the morning of Saturday February 28th, the start of the regular work week in Iran, resulted in the untimely deaths of  at least 165 people, most of whom were innocent schoolgirls between the ages of seven and twelve, and injuring 96 more. A total of 170 students attended the school, and the school building itself was almost completely destroyed.  This is a calamity for Minab’s 80,000 residents, for all Iranians, and Canadians of good conscience. 
 
 
UNESCO has called this indiscriminate attack “a grave violation of humanitarian law”. In addition to the tragedy of the innocent lives lost, attacks on educational institutions undermine the right to education. This serious violation exposes the lie that the U.S. and Israel want to “help” the people of Iran. This “help” now comes in the form of bombs that take Iranian children’s lives.  

We do not want to see more innocent lives lost. We demand that the Canadian government take steps to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means in line with international law, and not participate in this devastating war, which is quickly expanding throughout the region.

Statement in Response to the latest U.S Aggression Against Iran

Iranian Canadian Congress condemns in the strongest terms the attacks last night by the United States on Iranian soil, which recklessly ran the risk of untold harm to Iran’s population with nuclear fallout by bombing civilian nuclear infrastructure sites.  

In a deeply concerning break from reality, U.S. President Donald Trump followed his announcement of the attacks—which came after over a week of unprovoked Israeli attacks which killed hundreds of civilians—that “now is the time for peace”. We ask ourselves how a president who has campaigned on the promise not to involve the United States in further wars, justifies Israel’s bombing while Iran was at the negotiating table with the U.S., follows with another egregious and unlawful attack, and expects Iran to complacently submit to this state of affairs.

We are deeply dismayed that Prime Minister Mark Carney, who campaigned on a platform of standing up to U.S. bullying, now kowtows to the position taken by the U.S. and Israel, that in contravention to the U.N. charter, launders a war of aggression initiated by Israel and backed by the United States. We are also horrified at opposition leader Pierre Poilievre’s statement calling Iran’s government a “genocidal regime” while Israel continues its relentless attacks on Gaza, Iran, and other neighbouring countries. Poilievre’s statement flies in the face of the findings of the International Court of Justice, recognized by broad swathes of the Canadian and International Community, that Israel is committing genocide.

We strongly urge Mark Carney’s government to show some backbone, listen to Canadian citizens’ calls to not involve our country in U.S. and Israeli aggression, and act in accordance with Canadian and International law to avert further escalation of war.

The Iranian Canadian Congress has received reports of dual Iranian Canadian citizens being denied entrance to the United States. We have obtained a report written by the American Immigration Lawyers Association on the heightened scrutiny of individuals of Iranian descent at the US border. According to this document, completing mandatory military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) can result in inadmissibility to the US under INA 212(a)(3)(B) for having been involved in terrorist activities. Further, the document states that in some cases, the inadmissibility to the US was even extended to the family members (e.g. a spouse) or those who served in other branches of the Iranian military. The document adds that non-US immigrants with IRGC military service should be advised of the high likelihood of being denied admission by the US Customs and Border Protection and returned to their port of origin. 

The ICC is concerned by the findings of this report as many Iranian Canadian males can be potentially affected by the described actions of the US Department of State and Department of Homeland Security. 

If you are a dual Iranian Canadian citizen and have been denied entry to the United States in recent months, please fill this form.