In a move that has ignited a geopolitical storm, the Iranian embassy in Armenia sent a disturbing response to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt following the birth of her second child. On May 7, 2026, Leavitt announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she and her husband had welcomed a baby girl named Viviana on May 1st.

While many offered congratulations, the official account for the Iranian embassy in Armenia replied with a message referencing a deadly military strike on an Iranian school earlier this year.

“Congratulations to you. Children are innocent and lovable,” the embassy wrote. “Those 168 children that your boss killed in the school in Minab, and you justified, were also children. When you kiss your baby, think of the mothers of those children.”

The message was echoed by the Iranian embassy in South Africa, which told the 28-year-old press secretary that her “hands are stained with the blood of many innocent children.”

The Minab School Tragedy: February 2026

The “Minab strike” referenced in the messages occurred on February 28, 2026, during the opening hours of the U.S.-led war on Iran. A U.S. Tomahawk missile struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Hormozgan province, resulting in one of the deadliest single military errors in decades.

  • Casualties: Reports indicate that 156 people were killed, including 120 students and 26 teachers.

  • The Cause: A preliminary U.S. military investigation, reported by The New York Times, concluded that the strike was an unintentional error.

  • Targeting Failure: Investigators believe the coordinates were generated using outdated intelligence that failed to identify the building’s 10-year transition from a military facility to a civilian school.

A War of Words

The administration’s response to the tragedy has been a point of contention for months. In March, Leavitt strongly denied that the U.S. deliberately targeted civilians, calling the Iranian regime “rogue” and accusing it of using effective propaganda.

President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the incident, suggesting in previous statements that the strike may have been “done by Iran,” despite the Pentagon’s own inquiry finding U.S. responsibility. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the military is still taking a “deep look” into the targeting fiasco to understand how multiple layers of verification failed.

Date Event
Feb 28, 2026 Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab struck by Tomahawk missile; 156 killed.
Mar 11, 2026 NYT reports Pentagon probe finds U.S. responsible due to outdated intelligence.
May 1, 2026 Karoline Leavitt gives birth to daughter, Viviana.
May 7, 2026 Leavitt publicly announces the birth on social media.
May 9, 2026 Iranian embassies send “chilling” responses to Leavitt’s announcement.