TEHRAN – Over 250 students, professors, and members of the Iran-Nicaragua Parliamentary Friendship Group held a commemoration ceremony for 168 students martyred by the US missile in Minab, Hormozgan province, marking the 168th day of their martyrdom at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua).

Iranian ambassador to Nicaragua, Ramin Zare, attended the ceremony, which was held on Friday, IRNA reported.

On February 28, US Tomahawk missiles struck Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, killing 168 students, most of whom were schoolgirls, with at least 95 others sustaining severe injuries, marking one of the most harrowing atrocities of the conflict’s opening day.

Addressing the event, Marlon Leonel Díaz Zúniga, the Vice President of UNAN-Managua, announced the sympathy and solidarity of Nicaraguans with the families of the martyred students, saying that victims should not be regarded merely as numerical figures and statistical data. The pain and suffering inflicted by war recognize no borders. Given its own history, Nicaragua is well aware of the consequences of violating national sovereignty, and deeply understands the hardships endured by the families of these students.

For his part, Zare outlined the dimensions of the illegal US-Israeli attacks against Iran’s territorial integrity, saying that, “This incident is not merely a human tragedy; it is a serious test of the credibility of international laws and international humanitarian law.

What happened in Minab was not merely an attack on a building; it was an attack on the symbols of international law and a blow to the function of international organizations tasked with the protection of civilian lives.”

The official went on to say that “we advocate for accountability rather than revenge, enforcement of laws rather than reciprocal lawlessness, and respect for the UN Charter and international humanitarian law rather than normalization of aggressions.”

On the sidelines of the ceremony, an exhibition of the martyred students’ photos and videos was held.  

In March, officials in the Nicaraguan city of Corinto designated a street as “Angels of Minab” to honor the memory of the martyred students of the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school, Press TV reported.

The mayor of Bandar Abbas, Mehdi Nobani, announced the naming initiative on Sunday, saying it is part of the ongoing cooperation between the two sister cities.

Nobani further noted that the ceremony for the unveiling of Angels of Minab Street took place at the Bandar Abbas Park in Corinto, commemorating the martyrs of Minab.

The event marks a significant moment in the cultural and international relations between Nicaragua and Iran.

MT/MG