The Iranian Canadian Congress is deeply saddened by and condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal attacks and declaration of war by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. This flagrant violation of international law is an escalation based on bad-faith negotiations. These negotiations, in which Iran was threatened with war if it did not meet excessive demands, included pressure to give up the right to conventional defense capabilities (its missile defense system) enshrined in article 51 of the UN charter. In the last 48 hours, we know that several government officials were killed, including the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, several of whose family members, including a 14-month-old granddaughter, were not spared. We are devastated to learn of multiple civilian and civilian infrastructure casualties, including hospitals and clinics, medical and humanitarian facilities of the Red Crescent, sports teams and grounds, and schools.  
 
In particular, we unequivocally condemn the horrific bombing of the Shajareh Tayebbeh girls’ elementary school in the Southern Iranian town of Minab, Hormozgan province. This bombing on the morning of Saturday February 28th, the start of the regular work week in Iran, resulted in the untimely deaths of  at least 165 people, most of whom were innocent schoolgirls between the ages of seven and twelve, and injuring 96 more. A total of 170 students attended the school, and the school building itself was almost completely destroyed.  This is a calamity for Minab’s 80,000 residents, for all Iranians, and Canadians of good conscience. 
 
 
UNESCO has called this indiscriminate attack “a grave violation of humanitarian law”. In addition to the tragedy of the innocent lives lost, attacks on educational institutions undermine the right to education. This serious violation exposes the lie that the U.S. and Israel want to “help” the people of Iran. This “help” now comes in the form of bombs that take Iranian children’s lives.  

We do not want to see more innocent lives lost. We demand that the Canadian government take steps to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means in line with international law, and not participate in this devastating war, which is quickly expanding throughout the region.