Iran held mass funerals in Minab on Tuesday, 3 March, for pupils and staff killed in a reported strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls’ primary school. Iranian authorities have said more than 160 people died, a figure international outlets have not independently verified. Footage carried by state media and confirmed by foreign correspondents showed long cortèges and small coffins draped in Iran’s flag. (washingtonpost.com)
Tehran has attributed the incident to the ongoing United States–Israeli campaign against Iranian military sites and leadership. Israel’s military said it was “not aware” of any operation near Minab. The United States said it is reviewing the reports; Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US would not deliberately target a school, and US Central Command underlined that protection of civilians is “of utmost importance” pending its inquiry. (cbsnews.com)
Local officials reported the school was hit by three missiles on Saturday morning and situated within several hundred metres of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps complex. Open‑source geolocation by international media confirms the school’s proximity to IRGC facilities; there is no evidence the school itself had a military function. (yahoo.com)
Saturday is a school day in Iran, increasing the likelihood the building was occupied during morning lessons. Rights group Hengaw and provincial sources cited roughly 170 pupils in the morning session at the time of impact. (newarab.com)
Independent verification remains limited. The Washington Post said casualty figures could not be confirmed. The Guardian published a visual analysis geolocating the campus and nearby military sites and corroborating video from the aftermath, while BBC journalists verified clips showing smoke and crowds but did not confirm a toll. (washingtonpost.com)
Under international humanitarian law, parties must distinguish civilians and civilian objects from military objectives, avoid attacks expected to cause excessive harm relative to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated, and take all feasible precautions in attack. UNESCO described the reported school strike as a grave violation of protections afforded to education. (blogs.icrc.org)
President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the incident as a “barbaric act” and accused the attackers of adding “another black page” to a record of crimes. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted images of graves being dug for more than 160 victims, writing: “This is how ‘rescue’ promised by Mr Trump looks in reality. From Gaza to Minab, innocents murdered in cold blood.” (tass.com)
In Washington, Secretary Rubio reiterated that the United States would not target schools or other civilian infrastructure and indicated the Pentagon was examining the incident. CENTCOM’s spokesperson said the command was looking into the reports and emphasised civilian protection in operational planning and assessments. (goodmorningamerica.com)
From a compliance perspective, any impartial investigation would need to examine weapons effects, fragments and crater signatures, review flight and targeting logs, and interview witnesses and first responders. Investigators would also assess whether the site had any military use, the proximity to known military objectives, and whether all feasible precautions were applied given the school’s reported location near an IRGC facility.
As of Wednesday, 4 March 2026, responsibility and the final casualty count remain contested. Iran continues to attribute the strike to US‑Israeli forces; the IDF denies knowledge of an operation in Minab and US Central Command is reviewing the reports. International organisations and education unions have called for a prompt, independent inquiry and for reinforced civilian‑harm mitigation measures during ongoing operations. (cbsnews.com)