Dr John Jabbour, WHO Representative in the Islamic Republic of IranDr Jean Jabbour is a senior public health practitioner specialized in epidemiology, with experience in global health governance, health security and emergency preparedness and response. He has served as WHO Representative (WR) and Head of Mission in the Islamic Republic of Iran since April 2026.

Prior to this assignment, Dr Jabbour served as the WR in Oman. He has also served as WR in Libya and Deputy WR, then WR, in Egypt.

Dr Jabbour started his career in WHO as a manager of the Noncommunicable Diseases Programme, WHO Country Office, Lebanon. 

Dr Jabbour joined the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in January 2003 where he held different posts, including Surveillance Officer for Tuberculosis, Technical Officer for Emerging Infections and Regional Adviser for the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) Programme. He has supported initiatives to enhance preparedness for public health emergencies, including surveillance systems, event-based reporting, laboratory networks, points of entry and multisectoral coordination mechanisms, and supported countries in building and assessing the core capacities needed for the implementation of IHR 2005 in alignment with WHO frameworks and global health security priorities.

Before joining WHO, Dr Jabbour taught the principles of advanced epidemiology at the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, and then headed the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit at the Ministry of Public Health, Lebanon (1996–2001). 

Dr Jabbour combines operational field experience with strategic policy expertise. He is recognized for his ability to translate global norms and standards into actionable national policies, foster multisectoral collaboration and build sustainable institutional capacity within ministries of health and partner institutions. He has contributed to strengthening public health across the Region.

In 1994, Dr Jabbour was one of the founders of the Lebanese Epidemiological Association.