TEHRAN — The Iranian state-owned newspaper Tehran Times has sparked international outrage by dedicating its front page to the photographs of children killed in a recent missile strike on a primary school. Accompanying the somber images is the bold headline, “Trump, Look into Their Eyes,” serving as a direct and emotional rebuttal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claims regarding the tragedy. The strike, which took place on February 28, 2026, at the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in the southern city of Minab, resulted in the deaths of over 150 children, with recent reports indicating the total death toll has climbed to 165.
The front-page challenge follows a press briefing where President Trump alleged that Iran was responsible for the disaster. He argued that the Iranian military’s weaponry is notoriously “inaccurate” and suggested that a misfired Iranian missile hit the school by mistake. However, these assertions have been met with skepticism from international media and investigative bodies. The New York Times and Reuters have both published reports suggesting that U.S. forces were likely behind the attack, citing satellite imagery and geolocated video evidence that shows the school was hit during a series of precision strikes on an adjacent naval base used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Further evidence has been provided by the Netherlands-based investigative group Bellingcat. Researcher Trevor Ball identified the munition used in the strike as a Tomahawk cruise missile, a weapon system currently utilized in this conflict exclusively by the United States. Analysts have noted that Israel does not possess this specific missile, further narrowing the likely origin of the attack. While the Pentagon has confirmed it is investigating the incident, it has yet to officially claim responsibility, even as external investigations suggest the school may have been misidentified as part of the neighboring military complex due to outdated intelligence.
The humanitarian impact of the strike has been catastrophic, with funerals recently held for the victims in Minab. Although official Iranian reports list 150 deaths, local sources and humanitarian groups suggest the number is higher, with many victims still being identified from the rubble. As the war of words between Tehran and Washington escalates, the Tehran Times cover has become a powerful symbol for those calling for an independent international inquiry into the strike, which UNESCO and various human rights organizations have described as a grave violation of international law.
