Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that an investigation into a February strike on a girls' school in Iran indicates the attack was not carried out on purpose.
The strike took place on February 28 - the first day of the conflict - and was reported by Iranian officials to have killed more than 175 children and teachers.
Trump, speaking during a press conference at the Group of Seven meeting in Evian-les-Bains, said the matter remains under review. "That’s under investigation," he said, adding that in warfare mistakes occur. He repeated the comment, "Nobody did that on purpose."
Earlier statements by the president had placed responsibility with Iran, a claim he initially made without providing evidence. In subsequent remarks, he said he does not yet know enough about the strike, that an investigation is ongoing and that he will accept the findings of that inquiry.
Reporting has indicated that an initial internal U.S. military review found U.S. forces were likely responsible for the fatal strike in Minab. The Pentagon has elevated the probe, though it has not publicly acknowledged any preliminary conclusions.
Officials at U.S. Central Command described the investigation as "complex," noting the girls' school was located on an active Iranian cruise missile base. The Central Command head said last month that the probe is nearing completion.
The sequence of public comments has shifted from an initial attribution of blame to Iran by the president, to a position emphasizing ongoing inquiry and deference to the investigative outcome. Meanwhile, military channels have been moving the probe through higher levels of review as the inquiry continues toward a conclusion.
Reporting note: Statements quoted here were delivered by the president at a press conference on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in Evian-les-Bains. Descriptions of the strike and the casualty figures are those provided by Iranian officials. Details on the internal U.S. military review and the status of the Pentagon probe reflect public reporting of the ongoing investigation as described above.