The wounds of the past continue to dictate the diplomacy of the present, as Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cited the tragic attack on the Minab School as a primary reason for the Iranian people’s refusal to engage in new talks with the United States. During his interview with Egyptian media, Baghaei recalled the “brutality” of American-linked strikes, specifically mentioning the martyrdom of 170 female students and their teachers at the Minab educational facility.
“The Iranian people, having experienced the reality of American promises, are no longer ready to sit at the negotiating table,” Baghaei stated. He used the Minab School tragedy as a stark example of what he termed “savage American attacks” on civilian infrastructure. By bringing this historical grievance to the forefront of the current geopolitical debate, Baghaei is reinforcing the narrative that Tehran views the US not as a neutral mediator, but as a direct aggressor responsible for civilian casualties.
This refusal to negotiate is rooted in a deep-seated mistrust that Baghaei claims has only been solidified by recent events. For the Iranian leadership, the memory of Minab serves as a rallying cry for self-reliance and resistance. The spokesperson concluded that as long as the US continues to use “dialogue as a cover for force”, Iran remains committed to its current path. This stance suggests that until there is a fundamental shift in how Washington approaches its regional policy, the cycle of mistrust and confrontation is likely to persist, with civilian tragedies of the past serving as the ultimate barrier to future peace.
