Tehran, May 21 — Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected U.S. Central Command’s assertion that the school struck on February 28 in Minab was part of a missile launch site, calling the allegation a “baseless fabrication” and an “appalling lie.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on X that the U.S. characterization is a deliberate attempt to obscure what Tehran describes as the killing of more than 170 schoolchildren and teachers in the strike. He called the attack — carried out during school hours against an active educational institution — a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, and urged that those responsible in the U.S. chain of command be held accountable under international law.
Baghaei insisted the civilian nature of the site cannot be masked by technical or tactical descriptions, and accused U.S. officials of shamelessly distorting the facts surrounding the February attacks.
The comments followed testimony by U.S. Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper to a House committee, in which he said the school lay near what CENTCOM described as an active IRGC cruise missile base, making the incident “more complex than the average strike.” Cooper said CENTCOM would provide transparency when its investigation is complete.
Separately, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that during 40 days of war there were no resignations at the Foreign Ministry or in Iranian diplomatic missions, and he expressed pride that staff did not abandon their posts despite intense pressure.
Diplomatic efforts to halt the wider conflict continue. Al Arabiya reported that the U.S. has submitted a new ceasefire proposal to Iran via Pakistan. Tehran is reviewing the draft but has not issued a formal response, as mediators work to reconcile differences between the U.S. and Iranian positions.
Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, had planned a visit to Tehran that sources say will proceed only if Iran reaches terms compatible with the new proposal. PressTV reported that Baghaei received a U.S. reply to Iran’s earlier 14-point proposal and is currently examining it. The outlet added that the visit by Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, was intended to support and facilitate those exchanges.
Baghaei said Iran is negotiating with the United States “in good faith” but remains deeply suspicious of U.S. intentions. He also stressed Iran’s priority is ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Tehran’s key demands in talks reportedly include the release of frozen assets, an end to what it calls “maritime piracy,” and a stop to actions targeting Iranian shipping.
(This article is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
