President Donald Trump has deflected blame for a US missile strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed 175 children, casting doubt on whether the weapon was American despite verified evidence.
Attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School
The Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, southern Iran, was struck by a missile on February 28 during the first waves of US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Iranian officials reported 175 children killed, drawing condemnation from UNESCO and human rights organizations as one of the worst civilian casualty incidents in the Middle East in recent decades.
Footage verified by Reuters shows a Tomahawk missile hitting the school building. The only countries that own and report using such weapons are the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Trump's remarks on the incident
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, nearly four months after the attack, Trump said he isn't sure if “they were ever going to solve that problem in terms of whose fault it was.” He cited ambiguity because “there were missiles flying all over the place.”
“Somebody said it was our missile, maybe it wasn't our missile but I have seen nothing to lead me to believe it was,” Trump said. “I don't think it was us.”
US investigation and international response
The US Department of Defence launched a probe into the incident but has not released findings. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said results would be released “when the appropriate time is right.”
Initial inquiries suggest the strike may have resulted from outdated targeting data: the building was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) before becoming a school in the 2010s, according to Reuters.
The United Nations launched a fact-finding mission, with member Max de Plessis stating, “It's clear to us that whatever happens in respect of such an event, given the innocent lives that have been lost, there is a critical need for such an investigation to be done and for an independent outcome to follow.”
Iranian condemnation
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared images of the aftermath on social media, showing locals picking through rubble as the building smouldered. “The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils,” he said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei labelled the attacks “an egregious, unwarranted act of aggression” and “a blatant crime,” calling on the world to “stand up to this grave injustice.”
