According to a US expert, Iran has reportedly created chemical weapons using synthetic opioids like fentanyl. These potent substances have the potential to incapacitate both military personnel and civilians when combined with grenades or artillery.
Pharmaceutical-based agents, also known as PBA, are essentially medicines that have been weaponized to incapacitate or kill individuals when exposed to them. There are concerns that Iran may have provided PBA to its proxies, such as Hezbollah, enabling them to potentially use these agents for the purpose of kidnapping Israeli troops and civilians.
In an article for the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point, Matthew Levitt emphasized the importance of addressing the threats posed by Iran’s weaponized PBA program. He highlighted that with the increasing regional instability in the Middle East, largely driven by the militancy of Iranian proxies, it is crucial not to overlook the potential dangers associated with Iran’s PBA program.
PBAs, as defined by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, are chemicals derived from pharmaceutical compounds. While some PBAs may have legitimate medical uses, they can also pose significant risks when misused, potentially leading to severe illness or even death. This category includes opioids like fentanyl, as well as tranquilizers intended for animals.
When these drugs are inhaled, they have a direct impact on the victim’s central nervous system. As explained by Levitt, the effects of these agents are severe, causing victims to lose consciousness completely. This enables the individuals deploying these drugs to move swiftly and without attracting attention, or even take control of the unconscious victims.
During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran suffered from chemical warfare as it became a victim of Iraqi chemical attacks. These attacks, which involved nerve gases like Sarin and mustard gas, resulted in a staggering number of Iranian casualties, reaching up to 1 million. It is important to note that while Iran was subjected to such attacks, it also employed its own mustard gas in certain instances during the war. Israel has expressed its belief that Iran utilized PBAs against rebels in the Syrian Civil War, and there have been reports suggesting that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq may have unleashed these substances against anti-government protestors.
“The reality is that Iran acknowledges being a victim of chemical weapons in the gruesome Iran-Iraq war,” stated Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, during an interview with Business Insider. “However, it is important to note that they have also employed such weapons themselves.”
For years, the US and its allies have raised concerns about Iran’s development of pharmaceutical-based weapons, which violates the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. This international treaty prohibits the production and use of “toxic chemicals” that can cause death or harm to humans and animals. Iran, as a signatory to the treaty, is required to eliminate its existing stockpiles of such weapons.
According to a report from the US State Department in 2023, there is evidence to suggest that Iran is actively pursuing PBAs (Psychobiotic Agents). The report states that in 2014, the Chemistry Department of IHU (Imam Hossein University) in Iran sought kilogram quantities of medetomidine, a veterinary sedative that they have been researching as an aerosolized incapacitant. This request raised suspicions as the Chemistry Department has little history of veterinary or medical research, and the quantity they were seeking (over 10,000 effective doses) was inconsistent with their reported end use of research.
According to the State Department, in September 2023, Iranian anti-government hackers leaked classified documents exposing the development of medetomidine-disseminating grenades by an Iranian military university.
Restricting PBAs poses a challenge due to their overlap with products utilized for lawful law enforcement and medical purposes. Tear gas, for instance, has been employed by law enforcement as a riot control agent since the First World War, as well as by US troops in the Vietnam War to flush out enemy tunnels. Although tear gas remains legal for riot control, it is prohibited as a weapon on the battlefield.
According to Levitt, preventing countries from producing PBAs is an incredibly challenging task. This is why there has been a significant emphasis on diplomatic initiatives, sanctions, and a certain degree of law enforcement measures.
According to the CTC article, Iranian PBAs pose a significant challenge, especially if they have been supplied to proxies like Hezbollah. The deployment of weapons created using dual-use items, followed by their distribution to proxies, allows Iran to maintain a level of secrecy and plausible deniability regarding their involvement.
Israel was concerned about the potential use of PBA weapons by Hezbollah in their alleged plot to take control of the Galilee region in northern Israel and abduct Israeli citizens. According to Levitt, these weapons could be employed to incapacitate border guards and gain access to vulnerable civilians. Alternatively, they could be used to target and disable soldiers, enabling the capture or abduction of military personnel.
Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon have dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah, severely impacting its vast stockpile of missiles. However, it is worth noting that PBAs can also be integrated into hand grenades and mortar shells, which Hezbollah still possesses in substantial numbers. Moreover, there exists a potential scenario where US forces may confront Iran and its allies, potentially exposing them to pharmaceutical-based agents. It is important to highlight that the United States has already completed the eradication of its chemical weapons in 2023.
According to Levitt, PBAs should not be compared to weapons of mass destruction like nerve gas, which have the potential to cause widespread death and destruction. He clarifies that PBAs are not a strategic threat but rather a tactical weapon.
Chemical weapons may evoke a sense of fear and dread, even though fentanyl gas is not as lethal as nerve gas. According to Levitt, the association with chemical weapons can be quite alarming to many individuals.