On a single Saturday, hundreds of young women were hospitalized after reports of gas exposure and poisoning affecting at least nine schools across Iran, with additional infections reported in women’s education centers nationwide. Iranian authorities and state media confirmed poisonings in several cities, while activist networks claimed the reach extended to as many as forty women’s education centers during the same period.
In the southern city of Kavar, a school saw at least 27 female students rushed to medical facilities with symptoms including nausea and dizziness. Hamidreza Shabani, spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Education, relayed these figures to Tasnim News Agency, noting the seriousness of the situation as students were evaluated for potential exposure. Independent observers have urged caution about initial casualty reports while awaiting full verification from health authorities.
In Urmia, located in the northwest, about 30 students presented to medical centers after experiencing symptoms described by officials as intoxication. Tasnim News Agency cited the event but did not immediately reference official confirmation, prompting renewed calls for transparent updates from local health services and educational authorities.
Reports from Zanjan indicated a rising tally of affected individuals, with the number mentioned as 29. The rector of the city’s University of Medical Sciences indicated some students were hospitalized and that their conditions were stable, though details on the sourcing of the exposure remained limited at the time of reporting.
Two additional schools, one in Hamedan and another in Kabudarahang, both in the eastern part of the country, were reported to have experienced similar incidents. Shargh newspaper documented that 77 students were affected, with 13 requiring ongoing medical supervision. The reports underscored the broad and troubling pattern across multiple districts within a short span.
In Karaj, a city neighboring Tehran, students from one school were also reported to have been affected. Shargh cited the province’s general director of education, who confirmed observations of intoxication among students in that locality, reinforcing the sense of a wider crisis unfolding near major urban centers.
Activist groups such as 1500tasvir have claimed that gas poisoning cases occurred in 40 cities, including Tehran, Shahriar, Pakdasht, Borujerd, Safadasht, Lahijan, and Rasht. Footage circulated on social media showing parents voicing strong criticism of government responses as schools and educational facilities faced this alarming wave. The scale of the impact includes more than a thousand female students associated with these education centers, according to the activists’ accounts.
Witnesses and observers described a rapid escalation, with early cases dating back to November and intensifying in the days that followed. The symptoms reported by affected students included severe headaches, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, and in some instances an inability to move limbs after exposure to what was described as rotten oranges and various cleaning products. Medical professionals emphasized the seriousness of these symptoms and the need for thorough investigation and treatment where needed.
President Ibrahim Raisi stated that external forces were attempting to sow chaos through these gas attacks and pledged to confront the alleged conspiracy. The administration has indicated that the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Intelligence are investigating the incidents, though public progress updates have yet to provide a complete explanation of the cause and scope of the problem, leaving many questions unanswered in a country where women’s education has long been a focal point of national discourse.
popular discontent
The sequence of events has intensified popular discontent, particularly among parents who worry about the safety of their children and the effectiveness of official response. Critics point to a perceived inertia from authorities in halting the attacks and protecting schools that serve as crucial spaces for girls’ education and development.
In recent months, the nation has also seen widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest for not wearing a headscarf. The demonstrations carried a distinctly feminist undertone and saw students from schools and institutes participate by removing veils and shouting slogans in support of women, life, and freedom. Images and videos circulated showing acts of protest near portraits of Iran’s Supreme Leader, reflecting a powerful fusion of policy critique and gender rights advocacy.
State authorities subsequently pursued a hardline stance to quell the protests, with reported casualties and a severe crackdown tied to broader political tensions. The mix of social unrest and concerns about public safety in educational settings continues to shape the national conversation on governance, gender rights, and the role of youth in shaping the country’s future.