&nbsp;As Iranian and American officials prepare to sit across the table for the first round of technical talks since the end of the recent West Asia conflict, Iran has once again brought the tragic Minab school strike into the spotlight. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Saturday (Jun 20) invoked the memory of the children killed in the Minab school strike, saying their sacrifice would remain at the forefront of his mind as Tehran engages with Washington over the implementation of a recently signed 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU).Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/155-lives-lost-iran-reveals-heartbreaking-breakdown-of-the-minab-school-strike-victims-on-iran-war-2-month-anniversary-tomahawk-trump-in-pics-1777339563410">155 lives lost: Iran REVEALS heartbreaking breakdown of the Minab school strike victims | In Pics</a><h2>'Children of Minab are watching us'</h2>In a post on X, posted before the negotiations in Switzerland, Ghalibaf said he viewed the victims of Minab and other Iranian "martyrs" as silent witnesses to every decision taken by the country's leadership."I consider the innocent children of Minab and all the martyrs of dear Iran to be watching over my every action and behaviour at every moment," Ghalibaf wrote. "God forbid that I should ever bring shame to the innocent martyrs and the people of Iran."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">کودکان مظلوم میناب و تمام شهدای ایران عزیز را هر لحظه ناظر اعمال و رفتار خود می‌دانم. آنها ما را می‌بینند و از ما انتظار دارند. خدا کند که شرمندهٔ شهدای مظلوم و ملت ایران نباشم و روسفید به یارانم بپیوندم که برای دیدنشان لحظه‌شماری می‌کنم. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Minab168?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Minab168</a> به یاد بچه‌های مدرسهٔ میناب <a href="https://t.co/UDvZJOyJo2">pic.twitter.com/UDvZJOyJo2</a>&mdash; محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) <a href="https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2068440513104040140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The post carried the hashtag "Minab168", a reference widely used in Iran to commemorate the victims of the incident.<h2>Iran delegation reaches Switzerland for vital talks</h2>The comments came as a high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Zurich for talks with the United States aimed at advancing commitments made under the agreement that helped halt hostilities between Iran, the US and Israel earlier this year.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ghosts-on-the-flight-iran-delegation-travels-aboard-minab-168-tehran-uses-tragic-school-strike-to-set-the-tone-for-islamabad-peace-talks-1775883133513">Ghosts on the flight: Iran delegation travels aboard 'Minab-168'; Tehran uses tragic school strike to set the tone for Islamabad peace talks</a>Ghalibaf is leading the Iranian team. It includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, senior security official Ali Bagheri, National Iranian Oil Company chairman Hamid Borde, and several deputy foreign ministers and diplomatic officials.According to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, the discussions will focus primarily on the implementation phase of the agreement and whether both sides are fulfilling the commitments outlined in the memorandum.<h2>Iran cautious ahead of talks, warns against repeat of past 'broken promises'</h2>Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, who is also part of the negotiating team, struck a cautious tone ahead of the talks. "Every agreement and understanding is tested when the time comes for its implementation," Baghaei said, as quoted by IRIB.&nbsp;Referring to previous diplomatic disputes between Tehran and Washington, he added that Iran would closely monitor whether commitments made by the US are honoured. "Given our experience of the other party's breach of promise, we must seriously pursue the fulfilment of their commitments," he said.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.&nbsp;

As Iran and the United States prepare to begin technical negotiations in Switzerland, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the sacrifices of the "children of Minab" and other Iranian martyrs would guide Tehran's actions during the talks.

As Iranian and American officials prepare to sit across the table for the first round of technical talks since the end of the recent West Asia conflict, Iran has once again brought the tragic Minab school strike into the spotlight. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Saturday (Jun 20) invoked the memory of the children killed in the Minab school strike, saying their sacrifice would remain at the forefront of his mind as Tehran engages with Washington over the implementation of a recently signed 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU). Also read | 155 lives lost: Iran REVEALS heartbreaking breakdown of the Minab school strike victims | In Pics 'Children of Minab are watching us' In a post on X, posted before the negotiations in Switzerland, Ghalibaf said he viewed the victims of Minab and other Iranian "martyrs" as silent witnesses to every decision taken by the country's leadership. "I consider the innocent children of Minab and all the martyrs of dear Iran to be watching over my every action and behaviour at every moment," Ghalibaf wrote. "God forbid that I should ever bring shame to the innocent martyrs and the people of Iran."

As Iran and the United States prepare to begin technical negotiations in Switzerland, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the sacrifices of the "children of Minab" and other Iranian martyrs would guide Tehran's actions during the talks.

'Children of Minab are watching us': Iran's Ghalibaf arrives in Switzerland for talks with US

A US military investigation into a strike on a girls’ school in Iran is nearing its conclusion, though officials say the probe has been ‘complex’ because the site was located near an active Iranian cruise missile base. The strike took place on February 28, the opening day of the conflict, in the southern Iranian city of Minab. Iranian authorities say more than 175 children and teachers were killed in the attack. Speaking before a US House committee on Tuesday, Admiral Brad Cooper said the investigation was approaching its final stages. “I'm always reluctant to put a timetable on it. (The investigation) is coming to the end, and I think transparency is important,” Cooper said.&nbsp;Democratic lawmakers questioned why Washington had still not publicly accepted responsibility for the strike despite reports suggesting US forces were likely behind the attack. “It's really pretty clear what happened there. But 80 days on, we have not taken responsibility for that attack,” said US Representative Adam Smith. Smith pointed to previous incidents in which the Pentagon acknowledged likely responsibility even before investigations were complete. However, Cooper maintained that the Minab strike involved more complicated circumstances.&nbsp;“The school itself is located on an active IRGC cruise missile base. It's more complex than the average strike,” he told lawmakers. Archived versions of the school’s website reportedly show the institution adjacent to a compound operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Reuters earlier reported that US officials responsible for preparing targeting packages may have relied on outdated intelligence.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/todd-blanche-defends-trump-s-1-8-billion-anti-weaponisation-fund-as-democrats-accuse-doj-of-rewarding-political-allies-1779221433444">Todd Blanche defends Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponisation' fund as Democrats accuse DOJ of rewarding political allies</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The claim by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that the targeted <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shajareh_Tayyebeh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shajareh_Tayyebeh</a> Elementary School in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Minab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Minab</a> was located within a &quot;missile launch facility&quot; is a baseless fabrication and an appalling lie. This shameless distortion is a clear attempt to obscure the severe…&mdash; Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/IRIMFA_SPOX/status/2056843697623302327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>‘Baseless fabrication’</h2>Iran swiftly rejected the US explanation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei described the claims as ‘baseless fabrication’ and accused Washington of attempting to justify civilian deaths. “The claim by US Central Command (CENTCOM) that the targeted #Shajareh_Tayyebeh Elementary School in #Minab was located within a "missile launch facility" is a baseless fabrication and an appalling lie,” Baqaei wrote on X.&nbsp;He further condemned the strike, saying: “This shameless distortion is a clear attempt to obscure the severe reality of the 28 February missile attacks, which resulted in the tragic slaughtering of over 170 school children and their teachers.” Calling the attack a violation of international law, Baqaei added: “Targeting an active educational institution during school hours constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and is a clear war crime.”&nbsp;“The military commanders and United States authorities responsible for ordering and executing this catastrophic assault must be held fully accountable under international law,” he said. During the hearing, Cooper insisted the U.S. military does not intentionally target civilians and said American forces follow the law of war “to a T.” Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, pressed the CENTCOM chief on Iran’s alleged attacks on civilians across the Middle East.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-swelters-under-brutal-heatwave-as-monsoon-wait-intensifies-1779213688459/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-swelters-under-brutal-heatwave-as-monsoon-wait-intensifies-1779213688459/embed</a>&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Iran rejects US claims that the Minab school hit was near a missile base, calling the explanation a 'baseless fabrication' amid war crime allegations

A US military investigation into a strike on a girls’ school in Iran is nearing its conclusion, though officials say the probe has been ‘complex’ because the site was located near an active Iranian cruise missile base. The strike took place on February 28, the opening day of the conflict, in the southern Iranian city of Minab. Iranian authorities say more than 175 children and teachers were killed in the attack. Speaking before a US House committee on Tuesday, Admiral Brad Cooper said the investigation was approaching its final stages. “I'm always reluctant to put a timetable on it. (The investigation) is coming to the end, and I think transparency is important,” Cooper said. Democratic lawmakers questioned why Washington had still not publicly accepted responsibility for the strike despite reports suggesting US forces were likely behind the attack. “It's really pretty clear what happened there. But 80 days on, we have not taken responsibility for that attack,” said US Representative Adam Smith. Smith pointed to previous incidents in which the Pentagon acknowledged likely responsibility even before investigations were complete. However, Cooper maintained that the Minab strike involved more complicated circumstances. “The school itself is located on an active IRGC cruise missile base. It's more complex than the average strike,” he told lawmakers. Archived versions of the school’s website reportedly show the institution adjacent to a compound operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Reuters earlier reported that US officials responsible for preparing targeting packages may have relied on outdated intelligence. Also Read: Todd Blanche defends Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponisation' fund as Democrats accuse DOJ of rewarding political allies

Iran rejected US claims about the Minab school strike, calling CENTCOM’s explanation an ‘appalling lie’ amid a war crimes row

Minab school strike: US probe into strike nears end amid war crime allegations; Iran denies Washington claim as 'baseless fabrication'

The Iranian delegation to the US-Iran high-stakes peace talks has adopted the name “Minab-168”. Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf explicitly identified the aircraft of the mission as “Minab-168”. The front row of the aircraft was arranged with blood-soaked bags, children's shoes, and their photograph with white roses. He posted a picture of the arrangement with the caption, “My companions on this flight #Minab168.” The Iranian embassy in South Africa re-shared the picture with the caption, “We will never forget the children of Minab" It also posted an AI-generated video emphasising that association. Iranian officials and state media have used the name consistently to highlight the human cost of the conflict as they enter peace negotiations in Islamabad.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-talks-islamabad-agenda-delegations-analysis-1775899963348">Inside high-stakes US-Iran negotiations: Structure, agenda and delegations, all you need to know</a><h2>Why is the Iranian delegation calling itself “Minab 168”?</h2>The Western framing of news and information is unilateral. The New York Times, which is considered left-liberal, features headlines reflecting this bias: Putin "annexes" Crimea, but "emboldened" Israel is “seizing opportunities to remake” the West Asia region in its own image. It is the narrative of the Western media that “Minab 168” is fighting. The legacy media frames the Iranian retaliation in its neighbouring country as "aggression" and calls it a “terror regime”. Hezbollah, which is ill-equipped, is the only force that is somewhat capable of defending Lebanon; Hamas is the only resistance in Palestine; they are framed as terrorists. According to the Cost of War analysis by Brown University, since the start of the 21st century, the total number of people killed by the US is somewhere between 4.5 million and 4.7 million, which is astronomical when compared to Iran and its proxies, which is less than 50,000. Still, the US is the defender of democracy and free speech.&nbsp;The Iranian delegations are in Islamabad, trying to end a war that the US and Israeli forces have started. Iran has faced attack for 40 days on more than 800 schools, more than 30 universities, hospitals and other civilian infrastructures. On the first day of the war, a missile struck the Hajareh Tayyibeh girls' school in Minab, killing over 160 children and teachers. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that they are investigating it. Trump blatantly lied that Iran targeted itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;NYT framed it as a “devastating military error” taking away human accountability, CNN framed it as "likely hit" due to "outdated intelligence", explaining the mechanism, Fox News, framed it as “Hegseth announces probe of US role” doesn't define responsibility. The language obsucures the responsibility in the euphemism, mechanics and explanation. But now, as the whole world anxiously looks at the Islamabad peace talks, the Iranian delegation is trying to highlight "Minab 168" as the human cost of war in the entire region, which has roots in US imperialism and European colonialism.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Why Iran’s delegation to Islamabad talks is called “Minab-168” and how it reflects the narrative battle over the war.

The Iranian delegation to the US-Iran high-stakes peace talks has adopted the name “Minab-168”. Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf explicitly identified the aircraft of the mission as “Minab-168”. The front row of the aircraft was arranged with blood-soaked bags, children's shoes, and their photograph with white roses. He posted a picture of the arrangement with the caption, “My companions on this flight #Minab168.” The Iranian embassy in South Africa re-shared the picture with the caption, “We will never forget the children of Minab" It also posted an AI-generated video emphasising that association. Iranian officials and state media have used the name consistently to highlight the human cost of the conflict as they enter peace negotiations in Islamabad. Also Read: Inside high-stakes US-Iran negotiations: Structure, agenda and delegations, all you need to know Why is the Iranian delegation calling itself “Minab 168”? The Western framing of news and information is unilateral. The New York Times, which is considered left-liberal, features headlines reflecting this bias: Putin "annexes" Crimea, but "emboldened" Israel is “seizing opportunities to remake” the West Asia region in its own image. It is the narrative of the Western media that “Minab 168” is fighting. The legacy media frames the Iranian retaliation in its neighbouring country as "aggression" and calls it a “terror regime”. Hezbollah, which is ill-equipped, is the only force that is somewhat capable of defending Lebanon; Hamas is the only resistance in Palestine; they are framed as terrorists. According to the Cost of War analysis by Brown University, since the start of the 21st century, the total number of people killed by the US is somewhere between 4.5 million and 4.7 million, which is astronomical when compared to Iran and its proxies, which is less than 50,000. Still, the US is the defender of democracy and free speech. The Iranian delegations are in Islamabad, trying to end a war that the US and Israeli forces have started. Iran has faced attack for 40 days on more than 800 schools, more than 30 universities, hospitals and other civilian infrastructures. On the first day of the war, a missile struck the Hajareh Tayyibeh girls' school in Minab, killing over 160 children and teachers. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that they are investigating it. Trump blatantly lied that Iran targeted itself. NYT framed it as a “devastating military error” taking away human accountability, CNN framed it as "likely hit" due to "outdated intelligence", explaining the mechanism, Fox News, framed it as “Hegseth announces probe of US role” doesn't define responsibility. The language obsucures the responsibility in the euphemism, mechanics and explanation. But now, as the whole world anxiously looks at the Islamabad peace talks, the Iranian delegation is trying to highlight "Minab 168" as the human cost of war in the entire region, which has roots in US imperialism and European colonialism.

Why Iran’s delegation to Islamabad talks is called “Minab-168” and how it reflects the narrative battle over the war.

Why Iran named its Islamabad talks mission ‘Minab-168’?

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'Children of Minab are watching us': Iran's Ghalibaf arrives in Switzerland for talks with US

Iran rejects US claim on Minab school strike, calls it 'baseless fabrication'

Why Iran named its Islamabad talks mission ‘Minab-168’?