Iran: Minab school massacre ‘tip of a far larger iceberg’ in US-Israeli war crimes

The Iranian foreign minister says the US-Israeli massacre of schoolchildren in Minab is just the "tip of a far larger iceberg" of the invading coalition's war crimes. 

Abbas Araghchi delivered the statement in an urgent meeting of the UN Rights Council on Friday to address the US-Israeli terrorist strike against Shajare Tayyebe Elementary school in the city of Minab, south of Iran, which left 175 students and teachers massacred in cold blood on February 28.

"Iran stands today amid the throes of an illegal war imposed by two bullying nuclear armed regimes, the United States and Israel," Araghchi said, adding that the "blatantly unjustified and brutal" aggression began when Tehran and Washington were engaging in a diplomatic process. 

"They betrayed diplomacy for a second time in the course of nine months by torpedoing the negotiating table," he said, referring to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran in June 2025.

"Among the most harrowing manifestations of this aggression," maintained the minister, was the "calculated, phased assault on Shajare Tayyebe Elementary school."

According to witness accounts verified by satellite-based analyses, the school was triple-tapped by three distinct strikes.

"This cruel attack is but the visible tip of a far bigger iceberg—one that conceals beneath its surface far graver catastrophes, namely: the normalization of the most abhorrent violations of human rights and humanitarian law, and the audacity to commit atrocity crimes with impunity," said Araghchi. 

Referring to the invading coalition's claim of possessing high-precision weapons, he noted that "no one can believe that the attack on the school was anything other than deliberate and intentional."

The attack on the school was a "war crime and a crime against humanity," highlighted Araghchi, urging "unequivocal condemnation by all and unambiguous accountability for the culprits." 

He noted that the US military's cannot elude responsibility for the attack by branding it as an "incident" or a "miscalculation."

The remarks come as investigations by the US already show American forces have been responsible for the deadly attack. 

Minab school is not the only one targeted

Araghchi added that the Minab school had been the only casualty of American-Israeli atrocity crimes in the past 27 days. 

"Human rights and IHL have been massively and systematically violated by the invaders in an unprecedentedly brutal manner," he said, adding that aggressors are targeting civilians and civilian infrastructures with "no regard for laws of war and basic principles of humanity and civility." 

More than 600 schools have been demolished or damaged across Iran and more than 1000 students and teachers martyred or wounded as a result, added the Iranian minister. 

"The Aggressors, who are arrogantly shouting ‘no mercy, no quarters’, and threatening to strike Iran’s vital infrastructures, have been attacking hospitals, ambulances, health workers, Red Crescent rescuers, refineries, water sources and residential areas," he added. 

"The aggressors’ targeting pattern accompanied by their rhetorics leave little doubt as to their clear intent to commit genocide," warned the minister. 

'Indifference to injustices will bring no peace'

Araghchi added that the aggression on Iran was the "direct result" of the international community's silence in the face of and atrocity in occupied Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere. 

"Indifference and silence in the face of injustices would bring no security and peace. It would invite more insecurity and right violations," he said, adding, "The United Nations and the core values it embodies as well as the overall human right framework are at serious stake." 

"Iran has never sought war," highlighted the minister, adding that it has, however, "demonstrated absolute resolve and determination to defend themselves against the brutal aggressors who know no boundary in perpetrating all sorts of crimes—a defense that shall persist as long as needed."

The United States and Israel initiated an unprovoked military aggression against Iran on February 28 by the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several high-ranking military commanders and civilians.

Both military installations and civilian facilities have been attacked throughout Iran, leading to considerable loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure.

In response, Iranian armed forces have carried out over 80 waves of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.
 

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