The US president’s assertion is at odds with investigations by Western media that point to a probable American role
President Donald Trump has rejected US culpability for the strike on an Iranian school that claimed 175 lives, mostly children, and instead blamed a defective Iranian missile.
His comments conflict with investigations by AP, CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, which, based on satellite imagery and other visual evidence, concluded that the US likely destroyed the school during a February 28 bombardment of nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites.
When asked on Saturday whether the US was responsible for the school strike, Trump stated, “In my judgment, based on what I’ve seen, that was carried out by Iran.”
A reporter then questioned US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, “Is that true … was it Iran that did that?” Hegseth replied, “We are looking into it,” and added, “The only side that targets civilians is Iran.”
Trump interjected, saying, “We think it was done by Iran because, as you know, their munitions are very inaccurate. They have zero accuracy.”
On Thursday, Reuters quoted two US officials as saying that American military investigators believe US forces were likely responsible for the strike on the Minab school. The outlet noted that no final conclusions have been reached as the investigation is ongoing.
The school’s destruction remains the deadliest single strike in the US‑Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28.
The United Nations condemned the attack as “a serious assault on children, education, and the future of an entire community,” emphasizing that “civilians must never be treated as collateral.”