Across Tehran and several other cities in Iran, people took to the streets in response to a troubling wave of poisonings carried out by female students using an unidentified toxic substance. Reuters documented the incidents and the public concern that followed.
Witness accounts indicate that many of the affected students reported nausea and headaches. Authorities confirmed hundreds of victims and noted that incidents occurred in 30 schools spanning 10 of Iran’s 31 provinces, signaling a broad pattern that alarmed families, educators, and health officials alike.
In a separate development linked to international responses to domestic unrest, old European Union extended personal sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities believed to be involved in suppressing protests within the country.
The sanctions list expanded by more than 30 names, including Iran’s ministers of culture and education and two organizations associated with Iranian security forces, according to the EU officials familiar with the matter.
Among those named is Iranian Culture Minister Mohamed Ismaili, who has been mentioned in discussions about measures against artists perceived as not supporting official policies. Also featured on the list is Education Minister Yousef Nuri, who has faced criticism related to the treatment and harassment of students. Reuters has reported on these allegations and the subsequent sanctions as part of a broader international response to actions perceived as stifling dissent and affecting cultural and educational spheres.