“American aggressors launch from lands of our Arab friends to target children, innocent”: Iran FM Araghchi

In a post on X, Araghchi accused the US of launching attacks from the “lands of our Arab friends” to target children and the innocent in Iran.

“Iran and the Arab brothers have lived side by side for centuries in a spirit of affection, friendship, and mutual respect. 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,” Araghchi said.

His remarks come amid the backdrop of international outrage after strikes in Iran hit Minab Girls’ Primary School in the country’s Hormozgan province, killing over 160 and injuring another 100.

A recent report by CNN said that analysis has suggested the US was likely responsible for the deadly strike on the elementary school.

Citing expert analysis of evidence, CNN reported that satellite imagery, geolocated videos, public statements from US officials and the assessment of munitions experts suggest that the Shajare Tayyiba elementary school in Minab was hit on February 28 at around the same time as an attack that American forces likely carried out on a neighboring Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base.

While the White House has not ruled out that US military personnel carried out the strike, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said at a briefing on Friday that he was “not aware of any IDF activity in the area.”

The CNN report mentioned that the US officials had confirmed of striking military targets in southern Iran. In a briefing on Wednesday, Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented a map that plotted American and Israeli strikes on Iran over the first 100 hours of the war. He said Israel had mostly struck northern Iran while the US had targeted the south.

As per CNN, the most likely explanation for the deadly strike on the school, Jenzen-Jones said, is that the US inadvertently struck the facility while it was carrying out the attack on the naval base, not realising that the school was no longer part of the IRGC compound, or having failed to update its targeting officers.

“It’s probably a targeting failure,” he said. “Somewhere in the target cycle, an intelligence failure meant that the target set wasn’t updated, or a decision was made later in the cycle that resulted in the wrong target being hit”.

According to CNN, US officials have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. When asked by CNN for a comment, the US Defense Department referred CNN to Central Command. CENTCOM told CNN that “it would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation.”

CENTCOM had previously said that it was “aware of reports concerning civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations” and was “looking into them.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that an investigation had been launched, it further mentioned.

While the probe is ongoing and a conclusion has not yet been reached, CNN cited a report by Reuters on Friday that US military investigators believe it is likely that the American forces were responsible for the strike on the school.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Iranian President held a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US Rep Joe Wilson criticised Putin, alleging that Russia provided intel to Iran. In a post on X, he said, “War criminal Putin is killing Americans by providing Iran intel. Russia must be held accountable for mass chaos and death.”

These developments come in the wake of escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory resulted in the assassination of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries. (ANI)