US First Lady Melania Trump presided over a United Nations Security Council meeting on March 2, 2026, emphasizing the urgent need to protect children's education in conflict zones. The session, held during the US presidency of the council, drew sharp criticism from Iran following reports of a deadly strike on an elementary girls' school in Minab.
Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani condemned the timing of the meeting, calling it "deeply shameful and hypocritical" amid escalating regional tensions. UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo acknowledged the alleged attack in Minab, where Iranian authorities claim 165 people were killed, and highlighted widespread school closures in Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman due to ongoing military operations.
UNESCO issued a statement condemning the reported school attack as a "grave violation" of international humanitarian law. While First Lady Trump focused on broader educational protections, she did not directly address the Minab incident or recent US-Israel military cooperation.
The discussion underscores growing concerns about children's safety in conflict areas, with DiCarlo stressing that "the most effective way to protect children from conflict is to prevent and end wars."
