Karoline Leavitt posts baby update; Iran shoots a Minab barb

A personal announcement by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly turned into a diplomatic flashpoint between Iran and the United States amid the ongoing ceasefire.

After Leavitt announced the birth of her daughter on her social media handle, Iran responded with a pointed message. It combined congratulations with criticism over the February 28 strike on a school in Minab that reportedly killed more than 150 people, most of them children.

Also read: Iran mocks Trump with Lego-style video after White House dinner shooting

Leavitt on Thursday shared news of the birth of her second child, daughter Viviana. Posting a photograph of herself holding the newborn, she wrote on X, “On May 1st, Viviana aka ‘Vivi’ joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love.” She added that the baby was “perfect and healthy” and said the family was cherishing their “blissful newborn bubble.”

Iran’s sharp jibe

Soon after, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia reacted on X with a message that congratulated Leavitt while also invoking the Minab tragedy.

“Congratulations to you. Children are innocent and lovable. 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 embassy wrote.

Also read: Trump official Karoline Leavitt's 'shots fired' remarks before DC shooting trigger internet

What happened on Feb 28?

According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB and local reports, 73 boys and 47 girls were among those killed in the strike on the elementary school. The attack coincided with large-scale strikes launched by the US and Israel across Iran, which were followed by retaliatory attacks from Tehran on targets in Israel and Gulf countries.

Iranian media also reported that 26 teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver and a pharmacy technician working at a nearby clinic lost their lives in the strike.

Leavitt defends US

In March, Leavitt had defended the US position, stating that Washington does not deliberately target civilians. “While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America,” she had said.

Also read: Trump blames Iran for deadly school attack despite evidence pointing to US strike

Meanwhile, preliminary findings from a US military investigation, cited by The New York Times, reportedly suggested that a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck the school due to a targeting error.

Footage claims US attack

US President Donald Trump had initially implied that Iran itself may have been responsible for the attack, despite Tehran not possessing Tomahawk missiles. Speaking on March 7, Trump said it was his “opinion” that Iran was behind the strike, though he did not provide evidence.

Days later, when asked about footage allegedly showing a US missile hitting a military base adjacent to the school, Trump claimed he had not seen the video and again alleged, without proof, that Iran possessed Tomahawk missiles.