‘ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday condemned a missile strike on an elementary school in Iran, describing the attack as a violation of international law amid increasing criticism from European leaders over the ongoing US-Israeli military operations in the country.
Speaking before parliament in Rome, Meloni expressed sympathy for the victims and their families following the incident at a girls’ school in Tehran on February 28.
“I express firm condemnation of the massacre of little girls that occurred at the Minab school in southern Iran and solidarity with the families of the young victims,” Meloni said, calling for those responsible for the tragedy to be identified swiftly.
According to a report by The New York Times, a preliminary military investigation suggested that the missile strike that hit the all-girls elementary school, killing 175 people, may have resulted from a targeting error by the United States Department of Defense.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the findings and said the incident remained under investigation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the US president, told reporters that he was unaware of reports suggesting the United States may have been responsible for the deadly strike. Trump had earlier blamed the attack on the Iranian government.
Meloni’s remarks come as several European leaders have raised concerns over the ongoing conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said earlier this week that there appeared to be “no common plan” for bringing the conflict to a quick and decisive end.
Merz had previously joined the leaders of France and the United Kingdom in signing a joint statement urging the United States and Iran to halt hostilities and return to negotiations.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also strongly criticised the strikes, rejecting warnings from Trump about possible trade consequences for Spain.
In a televised address last week, Sánchez said his government would not support actions that were “contrary to our values and interests,” even in the face of potential pressure from Washington.