Families and children were moved out of the hospital, with relatives caring for them on the streets around the facility following the strikes, according to IRIB.
The incident came to light after the US launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran, targeting what the US military said were Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media reported a series of explosions across the country, mainly in coastal areas including Bandar Abbas. Explosions or projectile strikes were also reported around Ahvaz, as well as Konarak, Sirik and Qeshm in southern Iran.
At least two explosions were reported in Khondab in central Iran, about 250 km southwest of Tehran. Mehr news agency said air defences were activated in Tehran to counter what it described as “hostile threats”.
Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for Iran’s health ministry, said more than 260 people had been injured in the latest attacks, including three women and six people under the age of 18. He said two women were among those killed, while 222 of the injured had been treated and discharged.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had launched a second wave of strikes against Iran at 3 pm ET on Wednesday. It said the operations were targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also said US forces had disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail towards an Iranian port as part of Washington’s renewed naval blockade.
According to CENTCOM, the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma was travelling through international waters towards Kharg Island and ignored multiple warnings. A US aircraft then fired Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s smokestack, disabling it and preventing it from continuing towards Iran.
The US military said it had resumed its naval blockade against vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 pm ET on July 14. In the first 24 hours of enforcement, CENTCOM said it redirected two commercial vessels that complied with its instructions and disabled one that did not.
