Iran’s men’s national team paid tribute to victims of a deadly school airstrike by wearing black armbands and holding school bags before their international friendly against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday.
Mehdi Taremi stood with pink and purple rucksacks adorned with ribbons in a solemn gesture to commemorate those killed in the February 28 attack on a primary school in Minab, southern Iran.
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The airstrike reportedly claimed at least 170 lives, including students and teachers, on the first day of the escalating Middle East conflict following strikes launched by the United States and Israel.
Iran’s foreign minister described the incident as a “calculated, phased assault,” while a report by The New York Times cited preliminary findings from a U.S. military investigation suggesting the school was hit by a Tomahawk cruise missile due to a targeting error.
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According to the report, the intended target was a nearby Iranian base, with outdated coordinates contributing to the strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump had initially suggested Iran might have been responsible, despite the country not possessing Tomahawk missile capabilities.
The emotional pre-match tribute came ahead of Iran’s 2–1 defeat to Nigeria, but the focus remained on remembrance rather than the result.
Iran, who have qualified for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, have also requested that their matches be moved from the United States to Mexico, citing security concerns after warnings about potential risks to players’ safety.
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