Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting, traveling aboard an aircraft that carried a striking message from Tehran: '#Minab168'. The inscription on the plane refers to the 168 schoolchildren Iran claims were killed in a US strike on a school in Minab on February 28, underscoring the human cost of the ongoing war even as diplomatic efforts continue.
Images of Araghchi boarding the aircraft in Tehran showed the '#Minab168' marking prominently displayed on the fuselage. His visit comes at a tense moment for West Asia, with the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the US-Israel axis expected to dominate discussions at the BRICS foreign ministers' gathering in Delhi. Araghchi is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with energy security, regional stability, and connectivity likely to be on the agenda.
What Happened in Minab?
On February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, a city in Iran's southern Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz, was hit during a strike that Iranian authorities say killed 168 schoolchildren. The attack quickly became a defining symbol of the war's civilian toll. UNICEF stated that the victims included children between the ages of 7 and 12, calling it a stark reminder of the cost of conflict on civilians.
Controversy Surrounding the Strike
Minab's location added to the controversy. The school was situated close to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facility, prompting questions over whether it was caught in a strike aimed at nearby military infrastructure. The Pentagon later opened a higher-level investigation into the incident after preliminary findings suggested US forces may have been responsible, with reports indicating the possibility of faulty or outdated intelligence.
The reference on Araghchi's aircraft highlights one of the deadliest and most emotionally charged incidents of the ongoing Iran conflict, serving as a potent reminder of the war's impact on civilians even as diplomatic channels remain open.
