The US president said the “very powerful” yet “generic” cruise missile is being used by several countries, including Iran.
US President Donald Trump has suggested that Iran could launch a deadly strike on a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab using the Tomahawk cruise missile, a weapon system operated exclusively by the United States in the current conflict.
The February 28 attack on Shajareh Tayebeh Elementary School, which killed more than 160 people, most of them girls between the ages of seven and 12, was the single deadliest incident of the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The school is adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facility that was targeted during the same wave of strikes.
Multiple media outlets have shown geolocated video footage showing a Tomahawk missile hitting a Navy compound next to the school. Asked by reporters whether Washington would accept responsibility, Trump suggested Iran could use the missile instead “Anyone else.”
“Well, I haven’t seen it.” Trump said. “And I would say the tomahawk, it’s sold and used by other countries, it’s sold and used by other countries, you know. And whether it’s Iran that has some tomahawks — they want to have more. But whether it’s Iran or somebody else … the tomahawk is very common, but it’s sold to other countries right now.”
Trump has provided no evidence that Iran has Tomahawk missiles or the means to launch them. The long-range cruise weapon — capable of flying about 1,000 miles at low altitudes to avoid air defenses — is manufactured by Raytheon and is primarily deployed by US Navy warships and submarines. A handful of US allies, including the UK and Australia, operate the system, while the Netherlands and Japan are in the process of acquiring the missiles.
A few days ago, Trump directly accused Tehran of destroying the school with his own school “So wrong” Weapons.
Pressed again on Monday about the strike, Trump admitted he did not know enough about the incident and said he would accept the results of an ongoing investigation.
“I’m told it’s under investigation…but the tomahawks are used by others” He reiterated.
The Pentagon said the incident was being investigated. Officials quoted in US media reports suggested the school may have been hit accidentally, possibly due to outdated intelligence or targeting errors.
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