Israel targets Iran factory, alleges fentanyl use in chemical weapons; Tehran denies

Israel said on Wednesday it launched a strike on a pharmaceutical facility in Iran, alleging it was supplying fentanyl for use in a chemical weapons programme, a charge denied by Tehran.Iran confirmed that the Tofigh Daru factory was hit but said it produces only “hospital drugs” used in medical procedures. Both sides said the strike took place on Tuesday, AP reported.Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi shared an image of the site on X, saying, “The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies.”Fentanyl, a powerful and a highly potent synthetic opioid, is widely used in hospitals to treat severe pain, though even small amounts can be fatal.

Israel and the United States have in recent years raised concerns about Iran exploring the use of fentanyl in weapons. Washington has also pointed to Iranian academic research examining Russia’s use of a fentanyl-based agent during the 2002 Moscow theatre hostage crisis.Israel said the targeted facility supplied fentanyl to a Tehran-based research body known as SPND, which the US alleges has carried out work relevant to nuclear explosive devices and other weapons.