Iran’s Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the United States on Saturday following a deadly strike in southern Iran that reportedly killed more than 160 children and injured around 100 others. The attack targeted a girls’ primary school in Minab, located in Hormozgan province, triggering global outrage and raising fresh tensions in the Middle East.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi accused the United States of launching attacks from the territory of Arab countries and targeting innocent civilians. He warned that Iran’s response would inevitably be directed at US military bases and institutions. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“Iran and the Arab brothers have lived side by side for centuries in a spirit of affection, friendship, and mutual respect,” Araghchi wrote. “The American aggressors launch from the lands of our Arab friends to target children and the innocent. As for Iran’s response, it will inevitably be directed at the bases of the United States and its institutions.”
Deadly Strike on Minab Girls’ Primary School
The controversy centres around a strike that hit Shajare Tayyiba Elementary School in Minab on February 28, killing over 160 people, most of them children. According to reports, another 100 people were injured in the incident.
A detailed investigation by CNN suggested that the United States was likely responsible for the strike. The report analysed satellite imagery, geolocated videos, statements from US officials, and expert assessments of munitions, which indicated that the school was hit at roughly the same time as an American attack on a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base.
Experts believe the school might have been struck accidentally during the military operation.
Trevor Jenzen-Jones, a munitions expert cited in the report, said the incident was likely a targeting failure.
“It’s probably a targeting failure. Somewhere in the target cycle, an intelligence failure meant the target set wasn’t updated, or a decision later resulted in the wrong target being hit,” he explained.
US Yet to Confirm Responsibility
Despite growing evidence, US officials have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the strike.
When asked for comment, the US Defense Department referred inquiries to US Central Command (CENTCOM). CENTCOM stated that it would be inappropriate to comment because the incident is currently under investigation.
Previously, CENTCOM acknowledged that it was aware of reports about civilian casualties resulting from ongoing military operations and said the matter was being examined.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed that an investigation had been launched to determine the exact circumstances of the strike.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that preliminary findings from US military investigators suggest American forces were likely responsible for the attack on the school.
US and Israel Strikes Intensify Regional Crisis
The Minab tragedy comes amid escalating tensions in the region following joint US-Israel airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Those attacks reportedly resulted in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior Iranian figures.
The strikes marked one of the most dramatic escalations in the long-running confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first 100 hours of the conflict saw Israel primarily targeting northern Iran, while the United States focused its operations in the southern regions, including Hormozgan.
Iran Launches Retaliatory Attacks
In response to the assassination of its leadership and ongoing airstrikes, Iran launched multiple waves of drones and missiles targeting strategic locations across the region, including areas in several Arab countries believed to host US military facilities.
Tehran has vowed further retaliation, warning that American bases across the region remain legitimate targets.
Russia Also Drawn Into the Controversy
The conflict has also drawn international political reactions. On Friday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the rapidly escalating crisis.
Meanwhile, US Congressman Joe Wilson accused Russia of providing intelligence support to Iran.
In a post on X, Wilson alleged:
“War criminal Putin is killing Americans by providing Iran intel. Russia must be held accountable for mass chaos and death.”
Growing Global Concern
As investigations continue into the Minab school strike, global concern is rising over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict. The deaths of large numbers of children have intensified calls for accountability, transparency, and restraint from all parties involved.
With Iran openly warning of retaliation against US bases and tensions continuing to rise across the Middle East, analysts fear the crisis could expand into a wider regional conflict if diplomatic efforts fail.
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