US-Israeli strikes hit medical and nuclear facilities, Iran nuclear chief says

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 23, 2026

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami revealed that U.S. and Israeli military strikes over the past year targeted not only nuclear facilities but also sites producing medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals critical for healthcare and diagnostics. Despite these attacks, Iran continues to develop its civilian nuclear program and expand the production and export of nuclear-related medical technologies used by millions domestically and abroad.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) chief Mohammad Eslami has reported that military strikes attributed to the United States and Israel over the last year have targeted facilities linked not only to Iran’s nuclear program but also to the production of medical and diagnostic materials. Speaking at a ceremony on Physicians’ Day in Iran’s nuclear sector, Eslami detailed that the initial attack struck the nuclear fuel production plant in Isfahan, which supplies fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor. This reactor is primarily used for research and the production of radiopharmaceuticals.

Eslami further stated that air raids hit a radiopharmaceutical production facility and an oxygen-18 production line at the Khondab complex. Oxygen-18 is an isotope critical for positron emission tomography (PET) scans, an important diagnostic tool in modern medicine. He emphasized that medical and diagnostic products produced by the AEOI are utilized annually by more than 1.5 million people within Iran and are also exported to several other countries.

Highlighting the broader impact of the strikes beyond the nuclear domain, Eslami described the attacks as targeting “scientific activities whose products are used by the public,” underscoring Iran’s view that these actions reflect an adversarial stance toward the country’s scientific and medical capabilities.

In addition to addressing the effects of the attacks, Eslami spoke about ongoing developments within Iran’s civilian nuclear program, including advancements in cold plasma technology. This emerging technology has found applications in medical treatment, with over 20 wound-treatment clinics across Iran currently employing it in therapies related to cancer and pain relief.

The remarks illustrate the close integration between Iran’s civilian nuclear activities and its healthcare and scientific infrastructure, particularly in radiopharmaceuticals and nuclear medicine. Iran has consistently highlighted the peaceful and medical purposes of its nuclear technology. Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have targeted components of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure as part of broader efforts to curb the country’s nuclear ambitions.

Despite the disruption caused by the strikes, Eslami asserted that Iran’s nuclear industry continues to advance its medical technologies, pursue research in healthcare applications, and expand the international distribution of domestically produced nuclear-related medical products.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.