WANA (May 20) – Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly rejected claims made by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) regarding the February 28 missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the southern city of Minab, labeling Washington’s explanation an “appalling lie.”

 

In a statement released by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, Tehran dismissed U.S. military assertions that the school was operating within a “missile launch facility.” Baghaei characterized the claims as a “shameless distortion” aimed at covering up the civilian casualties resulting from the attack.

 

According to Iranian officials, the late-February bombardment resulted in the deaths of over 170 people, predominantly school children and their teachers.

 

“Targeting an active educational institution during school hours constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and is a clear war crime,” Baghaei stated. He emphasized that the civilian nature of the primary school could not be obscured by “technical misrepresentations.”

 

The Iranian government is calling for full legal accountability, demanding that the U.S. authorities and military commanders who ordered and executed the strike be held responsible under international law.