'Kind people': Iran thanks India for first medical aid shipment amid ongoing war

Iran thanks India for wartime medical aid

Iran on Wednesday expressed gratitude to India after receiving its first consignment of medical aid since the war began last month, triggered by airstrikes from the United States and Israel on Iranian territory.

The shipment was handed over to the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran, the Iranian Embassy in India said, according to ANI.

In a statement, the Embassy said, “The first shipment of medical aid from the esteemed people of India has been delivered to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. We sincerely thank the kind people of India.”

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India says, "The first shipment of medical aid from the esteemed people of India has been delivered to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. We sincerely thank the kind people of India."

(Video source: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of… pic.twitter.com/6LobbWCdmY — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2026

The Embassy of India in Tehran also confirmed the arrival of the shipment, underscoring coordination between the two countries as humanitarian needs grow.

The aid comes as Iran faces mounting strain from the ongoing military campaign, which began on February 28. According to Ali Bahreini, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, more than 1,300 people have been killed and over 7,000 injured since the conflict began.

The World Health Organization has reported 18 attacks on healthcare facilities and confirmed that eight medical personnel have been killed. Despite the pressure, officials say the healthcare system remains largely operational. “Primary healthcare and health infrastructure are robust, and they can accommodate casualties as of now,” WHO regional director Hanan Balkhy told Reuters.

The WHO has also said it has contingency plans in place to deliver emergency supplies if the situation deteriorates further, with aid flights from its Dubai hub having recently resumed.

Officials have additionally warned of potential health risks from toxic “black rain” caused by smoke from burning oil facilities, which could lead to a rise in respiratory infections.