Iran shares images of grave after deadly school strike kills over 160: ‘Murdered in cold blood’

The missile hit the school in Minab in southern Iran's Hormozgan province.

• Over 160 girls killed in airstrike on Minab school, Iran claims
• Iran blames US and Israel for deadly attack on elementary school
• UNESCO condemns attack, urges protection of schools in conflict

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has shared an image showing graves being prepared for victims of an airstrike that hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, during the ongoing conflict.

In a post on X, Araghchi said, “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. This is how "rescue" promised by Mr. Trump looks in reality.”

The minister said, “from Gaza to Minab, innocents murdered in cold blood”.

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.

This is how "rescue" promised by Mr. Trump looks in reality. From Gaza to Minab, innocents murdered in cold blood. pic.twitter.com/cRdJ3BELOn — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 2, 2026

At least 153 people, including children, were killed after a reported strike hit a school in southern Iran, Iranian officials said.

Tehran has accused the United States and Israel of carrying out the attack. The US military’s United States Central Command said it was reviewing the reports, while the Israel Defense Forces stated it was “not aware” of any operations conducted in the area.

The girls’ school was in Minab, close to a base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has been targeted in the past.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 201 people have been killed and 747 injured in airstrikes across Iran since Saturday.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian called the incident a "barbaric act".

 What does the UN say?

In a statement released on social media, UNESCO expressed deep alarm at the impact of the military attacks. It noted that pupils in a place dedicated to learning are protected under international humanitarian law, and that “attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education”.

UNESCO joined a host of bodies from across the United Nations system and senior officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres, to condemn the military attacks, as well as the retaliatory strikes by Iran that hit several Middle Eastern countries.

What does international law say?

Under international humanitarian law, all parties involved in an armed conflict are bound by three fundamental principles: distinction, proportionality and military necessity.

Civilians and civilian infrastructure — including schools and hospitals — are protected under international law and cannot be deliberately targeted. If there is any doubt about the nature of a site, it must be presumed to be civilian. Children are granted special protection.

However, civilian structures can lose their protected status if they are used for military purposes. For instance, a school that is being used as a base, command centre or weapons storage facility may be considered a lawful military objective under the rules of armed conflict.