Message from the President of the UNESCO International Centre in Mashhad to UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences on the Impact of the Recent War on Health, Education and Scientific Progress in Iran

Following the Israeli regime’s attacks on Iran, Dr. Seyed Hamid Aghaei Bakhtiari, President of the UNESCO International Centre for Basic Sciences Related to Health and Human Nutrition, sent an official message to Ms. Lidia Brito, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences. In the message, he strongly condemned the aggression, warned of its far-reaching impacts on citizens’ physical and mental health, disruptions to scientific research, and the weakening of the country’s education system, and called for immediate UNESCO action to preserve peace and security and support vulnerable groups.The full text of the message is as follows:

 

Ms. Lidia Brito
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO

Dear Ms. Brito,

In view of UNESCO’s primary objective of promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication, and in light of the 12-day Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran, which began on 13 June 2025 and imposed an unwanted war on the Iranian people, we wish to express our profound revulsion and strongly condemn this brutal act. We consider it essential to draw your attention to the following points:

  1. This conflict has not only affected the mental and emotional well-being of scientists and researchers, but has also severely restricted their access to essential research materials and facilities, thereby slowing scientific progress.
  2. Under these difficult circumstances, providing psychological support to children is of vital importance and must be given priority.
  3. The management and care of people living with chronic diseases, particularly vulnerable groups, require immediate attention. It is essential to ensure access to diagnostic tools, medicines and treatment facilities.
  4. Widespread feelings of insecurity and anxiety can disrupt educational efforts at all levels. Students, particularly those separated from their families, as well as international students, have been severely affected and require support and protective measures.

We respectfully urge you to take the necessary action within the international community to restore peace and security, and request that you give due consideration to the issues raised above and respond accordingly.

Respectfully,

Dr. Seyed Hamid Aghaei Bakhtiari
President, UNESCO International Centre for Basic Sciences Related to Health and Human Nutrition
Associate Professor of Medical Biotechnology
Head of the Institute for Basic Sciences Research
Head of the Bioinformatics Research Centre
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

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