“A War on the Future”: Iran Accuses U.S. and Israel of Deliberately Targeting 760 Schools
TEHRAN / GENEVA — The Iranian government has leveled a grave accusation against the United States and Israel, alleging a systematic campaign to dismantle the country’s educational system. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, more than 760 schools and educational centers have been damaged or destroyed by airstrikes since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28.
The latest figures, which have risen sharply following a new wave of strikes on Tehran and Isfahan, include the deaths of at least 281 students and teachers, a toll that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described as “calculated genocide” during an urgent briefing to the UN Human Rights Council.
1. The Minab Massacre: A Case Study in Precision
Central to Iran’s accusations is the “triple-tap” strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab on the first day of the war.
- Deliberate Targeting: Witnesses and satellite analyses verified by The New York Times suggest the school was hit by three distinct precision strikes during school hours. At least 175 people were killed, the majority of whom were girls aged 7 to 12.
- The “Outdated Maps” Defense: While initial U.S. reports suggested the site was targeted based on 10-year-old maps labeling it as a military base, the Asser Institute and other monitors noted that visually, the site was unmistakably a school, featuring play areas and brightly colored walls.
- Secondary Strikes: Iranian officials also reported that the Shahid Absalan Specialist Clinic, which began treating children injured in the school strike, was itself targeted shortly after the first blast.
2. The Breakdown of Educational Losses
The Ministry of Education provided a comprehensive report on the “deliberate destruction” of administrative and cultural infrastructure.
- Administrative & Cultural Hubs: Beyond the 700+ schools, strikes have hit 40 administrative buildings, 30 sports facilities, and 14 cultural centers.
- Higher Education: Israeli officials recently claimed a successful strike on the Imam Hossein University in Tehran, which they allege is a training ground for IRGC leadership, though Tehran maintains it is a civilian academic institution.
- Humanitarian Impact: The IRCS reports that the destruction of schools has left hundreds of thousands of children without access to education, contributing to what the UN has called the “theft of an entire community’s future.”
3. Casualties and Infrastructure (As of April 1, 2026)
| Category | Count / Status |
| Schools Damaged/Destroyed | 760+ |
| Students & Teachers Killed | 281 (Confirmed by MoE) |
| Total Civilian Structures Hit | ~100,000 (Per Red Crescent) |
| Health Centers Hit | ~300 |
| U.S./Israeli Stance | Focus on “Regime Infrastructure” |
Analysis: The Legal Battle Over “Collateral Damage”
The sheer number of educational facilities hit—over 700 in 32 days—has led international legal experts to question the “proportionality” of the U.S.-Israeli air campaign. While the Pentagon maintains that it only targets “dual-use” or regime-linked sites, the OHCHR and Amnesty International have stated that the strike on the Minab girls’ school constitutes a “serious breach of international humanitarian law.”
For President Trump, who is set to address the nation at 9:00 PM ET, these mounting reports of civilian and educational devastation provide a difficult backdrop for his “Peace through Strength” narrative. As Foreign Minister Araghchi calls for an “end to the war” rather than a simple ceasefire, the “war on schools” has become a central pillar of Iran’s diplomatic effort to frame the conflict as a crime against humanity.