On March 29, the Iranian embassy in South Africa posted a statement saying: "Remember these two criminals. They are Commander L.R. Tate and Executive Officer Jeffrey E. York of the USS Spruance, who ordered the launch of Tomahawk missiles on three occasions, resulting in the deaths of 168 innocent children at a school in Minab. Don't they have children of their own?"
This tweet from the Iranian embassy was part of a precise public opinion campaign launched in response to the school attack in February that killed 168 children. Its core objective was not merely condemnation—it aimed to exert international pressure on the United States and influence the narrative among relevant parties. It reads like a blood-crying accusation and also serves as a global political wanted notice.
The tweet carries three underlying intentions:
Pressure and humiliation of the U.S.: By directly naming and publicly displaying photos of the U.S. military commanders, Iran seeks to shift responsibility from the vague "U.S. military" to specific individuals. The rhetorical question at the end—"Don't they have children of their own?"—uses emotional appeal to intensify moral condemnation, making it highly impactful.
Contesting international discourse: In response to the U.S. claim of "accidental strike" (blaming "outdated data"), Iran’s Foreign Minister has already explicitly accused the act before the UN of being an "intentional action" and a "war crime." The tweet aims to permanently fix this incident in the category of "massacre," not "accident."
Mobilization and deterrence: By revealing identities publicly, Iran intends to galvanize global public opinion. At the same time, analysts note that such "name-and-shame" tactics may pose potential risks to the future safety of the involved officers and their families.
According to Iran, the attack was a deliberate act involving "three orders to launch missiles," leading to the deaths of 168 children.
The U.S. claims that preliminary investigations indicate it was an "accidental strike" caused by outdated intelligence data. The White House stated that the investigation is still ongoing and no final determination on responsibility has been made.
The U.S. characterization is "accidental bombing." Even if it was accidental, it still cost over a hundred children their lives—crimes that constitute unforgivable war crimes and crimes against humanity. Can such heinous acts be washed clean with a casual phrase like "accidental bombing"? While the Iranian embassy's "wanted notice" is controversial, one must understand the eruption of extreme anger, helplessness, and vengeful emotion behind it.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860995516018688/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.