U.S. President Donald Trump has said that it may never be possible to determine with certainty who was responsible for the deadly missile strike on a girls’ school in Iran’s city of Minab. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump suggested that the chaotic nature of the conflict’s opening stages, marked by extensive missile exchanges, could make it difficult to establish definitive responsibility for the attack.
The strike occurred on February 28, the first day of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. The Shajareh Tayyeba Girls’ School in Minab was hit by a missile, an incident that Iranian officials say killed more than 175 students and teachers, triggering nationwide grief and outrage.
Following the attack, Reuters reported that a preliminary internal assessment by the U.S. military had indicated the possibility that the strike may have resulted from an American operation. Although the Pentagon later expanded its investigation, no official findings have yet been released.
Responding to questions at the White House, Trump said investigators might never reach a definitive conclusion.
“At that time, missiles were flying everywhere,” he said. “It is not easy to determine exactly what happened. The incident was unquestionably tragic, but the entire region was witnessing intense military operations.”
Trump also expressed caution about attributing responsibility to the United States.
“Some people say it was our missile, but that has not been confirmed,” he stated. “I have not seen any evidence that would convince me the strike was carried out by our forces.”
According to Reuters, the attack may have been linked to the use of outdated or insufficiently updated targeting information. However, analysts say no firm conclusions can be drawn until the investigation is completed.
The incident prompted widespread international concern. The United Nations human rights office described the strike as “utterly horrific” and called for greater protection of civilians during armed conflicts.
Notably, Trump initially blamed Iran for the attack shortly after it occurred, without presenting evidence. He has since moderated his position, arguing that no conclusions should be reached before the investigation is complete and expressing his belief that no party intentionally targeted the school.
Source: Reuters.