U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not deliberately target a school after Iranian officials claimed a girls’ school was hit in airstrikes on Saturday, killing dozens of civilians, including children. Rubio said the Department of Defense was investigating the reports and stressed that Washington’s objectives were focused on missile production and launch capabilities.
Asked whether the incident was the result of a U.S. strike, Rubio said such an outcome would be “tragic” if confirmed but added that he did not yet have full details on what led to the reported deaths. Iranian authorities said at least 153 people were killed when a school in Minab was struck, releasing video that showed crowds gathered around a destroyed building near a base operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. military’s U.S. Central Command said it was reviewing the incident.
Rubio also told reporters the United States launched strikes against Iran “pre-emptively” after learning Israel was preparing its own military action. He argued that Iran’s response to Israeli attacks would have likely targeted U.S. forces in the region and caused higher American casualties if Washington had not acted first.
This justification appeared to differ from the tone of remarks made earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose speech framed the operation more aggressively and suggested the strikes were timed to exploit internal unrest in Iran. Analysts say the evolving explanation could face sharp scrutiny from opposition lawmakers questioning the legal and strategic basis of the action.
Tensions escalated further when an Iranian official warned ships against passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows. The adviser to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander said the strait was effectively closed and threatened severe retaliation against vessels attempting to transit the waterway.
The warning raised concerns of major disruptions to international shipping and energy markets, as well as the risk of a broader regional confrontation. As investigations continue into the reported school strike, diplomats and security experts warned that the conflict is entering a more dangerous and unpredictable phase.
