US-Israeli airstrikes on March 31 struck one of Iran’s major pharmaceutical manufacturers in Tehran and a Shia congregation hall in the northwestern city of Zanjan, according to Iranian officials and state media. The attacks came on the 32nd day of the air campaign that began on February 28, with the cumulative death toll in Iran now exceeding 1,937 people.
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Pharmaceutical Factory Hit in Tehran
The Tofigh Daru Research and Engineering Company, located in Tehran, sustained significant damage in the strikes. The company is one of Iran’s largest producers of cancer drugs, anaesthetics, and cardiovascular medicines. It is owned by the Social Security Investment Company, a state holding firm that manages assets on behalf of Iran’s social security system.
Javad Zarif, Iran’s former foreign minister, condemned the strike in a public statement, calling the attackers “desperate aggressors” who had “deliberately” targeted a medical facility.
Desperate aggressors have deliberately struck a facility that produces medicines for cancer patients and those undergoing surgery. This is the reality of what they call a targeted campaign.
Iranian state media broadcast footage showing structural damage to buildings at the Tofigh Daru compound. There were no immediate reports of casualty figures specific to the pharmaceutical factory strike. The company’s production lines include drugs used in chemotherapy, surgical anaesthesia, and treatment of heart conditions.
Shia Congregation Hall Struck in Zanjan
In Zanjan, a city approximately 330 kilometres northwest of Tehran, strikes hit the Husseiniya Azam, a Shia congregation hall used for religious gatherings and community events. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported rescuing two people from the rubble of the building.
Husseiniya halls serve as centres for Shia religious observance, particularly during Muharram commemorations, and function as community gathering spaces throughout the year. No military use of the Zanjan site has been alleged by any party to the conflict.
Casualties in Kermanshah Province
Separately, strikes in Kermanshah province near the Iraqi border killed one person and injured eight others. The target was identified as a civilian contracting company in the town of Qasr-e Shirin, which sits directly on the Iran-Iraq frontier. Iranian authorities have not specified the nature of the contracting company’s work.
Heavy Bombing in Isfahan
Isfahan, home to several major Iranian military installations, experienced heavy bombardment on March 31. Strikes were reported near Badr Airbase, the 8th Shekari Airbase, and the 4th Air Force Base. Isfahan has been a frequent target throughout the campaign due to its concentration of air force infrastructure and, according to Western intelligence assessments, facilities linked to Iran’s missile programme.
Iranian authorities did not release casualty figures for the Isfahan strikes.
Iran’s Retaliatory Claims
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it struck an Israeli container ship with a ballistic missile in the Persian Gulf on March 31. The IRGC also said it launched drones targeting US marines stationed along the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Neither claim has been independently verified, and neither Israel nor the United States has commented on the reported incidents.
Diplomatic Signals Amid Continued Strikes
Despite the continued bombardment, senior US officials signalled that diplomatic channels remain active. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the next few days would be “decisive” and described ongoing negotiations as “very real, ongoing, gaining strength.”
The next few days will be decisive. Negotiations are very real, ongoing, and gaining strength.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that US war objectives would be achieved in “weeks, not months,” suggesting Washington sees the military campaign as nearing a transition point.
However, Iran rejected what has been described as a 15-point plan put forward by the Trump administration. Iranian officials characterised the proposal as “extremely maximalist and unreasonable.” According to diplomatic sources, a “cloud of mistrust” persists on the Iranian side, with officials pointing out that Iran had twice engaged in diplomatic discussions only to face renewed air attacks during or immediately after those exchanges.
Italy Denies Basing Access
In a development reflecting the campaign’s broader geopolitical friction, Italy denied the United States military use of air bases in Sicily for operations against Iran. The refusal is one of several instances in which NATO allies have declined to provide direct logistical support for the US-Israeli operation, though most have stopped short of publicly condemning the campaign.
Casualty Summary
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Days since start of campaign | 32 |
| Total killed in Iran (since Feb 28) | 1,937+ |
| Total killed in Israel (since Feb 28) | 20 |
| Killed in Kermanshah (March 31) | 1 |
| Injured in Kermanshah (March 31) | 8 |
| Rescued from Zanjan rubble | 2 |
Did You Know
- Tofigh Daru is one of Iran’s oldest pharmaceutical companies, producing over 50 types of medicines including critical cancer treatment drugs and surgical anaesthetics used across the country’s hospital system.
- Husseiniya halls are distinct from mosques in Shia Islam. They serve primarily as venues for mourning gatherings, religious lectures, and community events, and are found in virtually every Iranian city and town.
- Italy’s refusal to allow use of Sicilian air bases marks a rare case of a NATO ally explicitly denying the US basing access during an active military campaign. Italy hosts several major US military installations, including Naval Air Station Sigonella.
- Qasr-e Shirin, the Kermanshah town struck on March 31, was the site where the 1639 Treaty of Zuhab was signed, establishing the Ottoman-Persian border — a line that roughly corresponds to the modern Iraq-Iran frontier.
The air campaign, now in its fifth week, shows no signs of abating despite parallel diplomatic activity. The strikes on pharmaceutical and religious infrastructure are likely to intensify international scrutiny of target selection, while US officials continue to frame the operation as entering a concluding phase.