Iran warns of lasting scars from Minab school massacre

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described the Minab school massacre as a lasting tragedy for the country, saying the deaths of innocent children would remain deeply rooted in Iran’s collective memory.

Araghchi made the remarks while urging the public to visit an art exhibition featuring paintings inspired by the incident. In a social media post, he said he had visited the exhibition and described it as a place where art conveyed the grief surrounding the tragedy.

He said the paintings reflected the painful memory of what Iranian authorities describe as an attack on innocent children. According to Araghchi, the passage of time would not erase the suffering of the victims’ families or the wider Iranian society.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has praised what he described as the resilience and unity of the Iranian people during recent confrontations with the United States and Israel.

Speaking during Islamic Unity Week, Qassem said national unity and resistance could prevent adversaries from achieving their objectives. He maintained that Iran had endured several rounds of military confrontation and argued that continued solidarity was essential for facing future challenges.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei also called on Muslim countries to strengthen unity and identify what he described as the main threats to the Islamic world.

In a message marking Islamic Unity Week, Khamenei urged governments across West Asia and the Gulf to understand what he called the strategic plans of their adversaries and respond collectively. He accused the United States and Israel of opposing closer cooperation among Muslim countries.

Elsewhere, Iraq has offered to facilitate communication between Tehran and Washington. Iraqi Prime Minister’s Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji said Baghdad maintains relations with both countries and wants to serve as a channel for dialogue.

Al-Araji said Iraq supports efforts to reach arrangements that protect the interests and rights of countries across the region. He added that Iran had also raised concerns about extremist groups operating from Iraqi territory.

At the same time, Israel has warned that it could launch fresh attacks against Iran if Tehran attempts to rebuild its nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel would respond militarily even if Iran reached an agreement with Washington. He claimed that previous US-Israeli strikes had significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear programme.