Trump says no one ‘deliberately’ attacked Iranian girls’ school as US probe continues | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (Jun 17) that no one deliberately attacked a girls’ school in Iran during the February conflict, as a US military investigation into the deadly strike continues.
At a news conference on the sidelines of the 2026 G7 summit, Trump acknowledged the ongoing investigation and said the circumstances of the incident remain under review.
“It’s being investigated,” Trump said.
He added: “Nobody did it on purpose.”
Trump also noted that mistakes can be made during war, while pausing to comment on the probe’s findings.
The fatal blow remains under scrutiny
The strike took place on February 28, the first day of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Iranian authorities initially said more than 175 students and teachers were killed when a missile hit a primary school in Minab. Updated figures published by Iranian state media this week put the death toll at 155.
According to the revised breakdown, the dead included 73 boys, 47 girls, 26 teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver and a pharmaceutical technician working at a nearby clinic.
The incident became one of the most controversial episodes of the conflict and remains the subject of an extensive investigation by the US military.
A US military investigation is ongoing
Reports citing sources familiar with the investigation indicated that preliminary findings indicated that the US Tomahawk missile may have hit the school due to a targeting error.
The Pentagon has since upgraded the investigation, although it has not publicly confirmed any preliminary findings.
Last month, Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, told lawmakers that the investigation was particularly complex.
“The investigation is complex,” Cooper testified, noting that the school was located near what U.S. officials describe as an active Iranian cruise missile facility.
Archived records on the school’s website reportedly show that the educational institution was located adjacent to a compound operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
U.S. officials are also reportedly looking into whether outdated intelligence may have contributed to the targeting process.
Iran rejects the American explanation
Iran has strongly disputed the claim that the school was connected to a military installation.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the US claims an attempt to justify the attack.
“This shameless distortion is a clear attempt to cover up the serious reality of the February 28 rocket attacks that resulted in the tragic killing of over 170 school children and their teachers,” Baghaei wrote on social media.
He further stated: “Targeting an active educational institution during school hours constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and is a clear war crime.
Baghaei said US officials and military commanders involved in authorizing the strike should be held accountable under international law.
Read also | Trump says the US and India are “very close” to a trade deal and calls Modi a “tough negotiator”.
Iran honors sacrifices during World Cup campaign
The tragedy has become a powerful symbol in Iran.
Earlier this week, Iranian authorities remembered the victims of the Minab strike while the national football team paid tribute during the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The team competes under the name “Minab 168” and wear gold badges on their uniforms in memory of those killed.
Iranian officials said the tribute reflected the country’s determination to preserve the memory of the students, teachers and civilians who died in the attack.
Trump says he will wait for the final findings
Trump initially suggested that Iran may be responsible for the incident, but later backed away from that claim, saying he did not have enough information.
The US president has since insisted that the investigation should be allowed to run.
Read also | Trump heaps praise on PM Modi at G7: ‘Calm, cool and a total killer, I’m not’
