Trump Alleges Iran Responsible for School Strike, Pentagon Investigates

Former President Donald Trump has publicly stated his belief that Iran was responsible for the recent strike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran, a claim that contradicts initial reports and ongoing investigations. The incident, which occurred on February 28th, resulted in the deaths of dozens of schoolgirls aged 7 to 12, according to Iranian state media and health officials [CBS News].

Trump’s Claims and Pentagon Response

Speaking aboard Air Force One after a dignified transfer of U.S. Soldiers killed in an Iranian strike in Kuwait on March 1st, Trump asserted, “In my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran…We consider it was done by Iran, given that they’re very inaccurate with their munitions, they have no accuracy whatsoever, it was done by Iran.” [CBS News]. He offered no specific evidence to support this claim.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, when pressed on Trump’s assessment, stated that the Pentagon is “investigating” the incident. He added that “the only side that targets civilians is Iran” [CBS News].

Conflicting Reports and Ongoing Investigation

Iranian officials have blamed the U.S. And Israel for the strike. Although, Israeli sources have denied any involvement, stating that the Israeli Air Force was not operating near the school [CBS News].

U.S. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of U.S. Responsibility for the strike [CBS News]. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions. “There are no conclusions at this time, and it is both irresponsible and false for anyone to claim otherwise,” Kelly said Friday. “As we have said, unlike the terrorist Iranian regime, the United States does not target civilians.” [CBS News].

Location of the Strike

The blast occurred in Minab, a city in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran. Footage from the scene shows significant damage to a building adorned with murals depicting children and school-related imagery [CBS News].

Recent Developments

As of March 7, 2026, President Trump continues to maintain that Iran is responsible for the attack, despite the lack of publicly available evidence [Politico]. The Hill reported on March 8, 2026, that Trump is accusing Iran of the bombing despite reports suggesting U.S. Involvement [The Hill].