Tehran: US Senator Mark Warner has called for 'a thorough investigation' into a deadly strike that occurred in late February on a primary school in Iran's southern city of Minab amid a joint US-Israeli military operation. Warner, speaking to CBS News, expressed disappointment over President Donald Trump's initial denial of the US's involvement in the strike and his attempts to attribute it to Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, Warner emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation to determine the responsible parties, whether it was the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) or the Defense Intelligence Agency. He asserted that the investigation should clarify the circumstances surrounding the strike, which he acknowledged as being carried out by the US.

Warner also criticized President Trump for his unclear messaging regarding the administration's objectives in the ongoing conflict with Iran. He highlighted the economic repercussions of the military operation, which have been felt in his home state of Virginia, including rising gas prices and a significant increase in fertilizer costs for farmers.

The airstrike on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school on February 28 resulted in the deaths of at least 150 schoolgirls. The joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran have so far claimed the lives of approximately 1,300 people, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and injured more than 10,000 individuals.

The incident has garnered international scrutiny amid conflicting claims of responsibility, with most analyses indicating that the strike was conducted by the US. President Trump had previously suggested that Iran might have been responsible for the strike, stating that the evidence he had seen pointed to Iranian involvement. He also speculated, without evidence, that Iran possessed Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are typically used by the US military.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing.