Tehran, March 3, 2026 – Iran's Foreign Ministry has leveled serious accusations of war crimes against the United States and Israel, claiming that their joint military strikes have deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and residential areas. The allegations center on a devastating strike on February 28, 2026, that reportedly destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, southern Iran, killing more than 160 students and staff, predominantly young girls.
Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have described the incident as a "blatant crime" and a violation of international humanitarian law. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi shared images purportedly showing rows of freshly dug graves prepared for over 160 young girls, stating: "These are graves being dug for more than 160 innocent young girls who were killed in the US-Israeli bombing of a primary school. Their bodies were torn to shreds." He further criticized US President Donald Trump's promises of "rescue," linking the Minab attack to broader patterns of violence from "Gaza to Minab, innocents murdered in cold blood."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei echoed these sentiments, condemning the "deliberate targeting and destruction of civilian infrastructure, medical facilities, schools, and media institutions" as constituting "blatant war crime and crimes against humanity." He called for urgent action from the United Nations Security Council and international solidarity against what Iran portrays as unprovoked aggression. Iran's UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, raised the issue at an emergency Security Council session, labeling the strikes "unprovoked and premeditated" and asserting that they resulted in the deaths of more than 100 children at the school alone.
The strike occurred on the first day of coordinated US-Israeli military operations against Iran, which began around 10 a.m. local time on February 28 and reportedly included the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Iranian state media, including IRNA and Tasnim, initially reported dozens killed but revised the toll upward, with figures reaching 165–168 victims (mostly schoolgirls aged 7–12, plus teachers and staff) and around 95 wounded. Mass funerals were held in Minab on March 3, with thousands gathering to mourn, carrying coffins adorned with photographs of the children and chanting against the US and Israel. Emotional scenes included drone footage of rows of graves and individuals cradling partial remains while accusing Israel of war crimes.
Iran has framed the attack as part of a wider campaign violating its sovereignty, occurring during Ramadan and just before Nowruz. President Masoud Pezeshkian called it a "barbaric act" and another "black page" in the aggressors' record. The Foreign Ministry highlighted additional alleged strikes on hospitals (such as Gandhi Hospital in Tehran) and other civilian sites, accusing the US and Israel of aiming to paralyze civilian life.
Both the United States and Israel have denied deliberately targeting the school. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that American forces "would not deliberately target a school" and indicated reviews of civilian harm reports. Israel has said it is "not aware" of operations directly responsible for the Minab strike and is investigating. Some reports suggest the school was adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base or barracks, potentially indicating collateral damage from a nearby military target, though independent verification remains challenging amid restricted access and ongoing conflict.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern. The UN Human Rights Office urged an investigation into the incident without assigning blame, noting that attacks on civilians or indiscriminate strikes violate international law and may amount to war crimes. UNESCO condemned the impact on educational institutions, while figures like Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai have spoken out against the reported school attack. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting where parties traded accusations, with warnings of a wider regional war.
Casualty figures from Iranian sources, including the Red Crescent (reporting over 550–787 total civilian deaths in the campaign) and human rights groups like HRANA (estimating 742 civilians killed), have not been fully independently confirmed. The Minab incident stands as the deadliest single strike reported so far in the conflict.
Iran has vowed self-defense and retaliation, launching missile and drone strikes on Israel and US bases in Gulf states, drawing in proxies like Hezbollah and prompting regional escalations. The US has urged citizens to leave the Middle East, closed embassies, and warned of further actions, with President Trump indicating that diplomatic windows with Iran may have closed.
The accusations have intensified global scrutiny of the conflict's human cost, particularly on children and civilians. As military operations continue, calls for de-escalation, accountability, and independent probes grow louder, though the fluid situation complicates verification and resolution.
