Iranian diplomatic missions have posted sharp messages aimed at White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt after she announced the birth of her daughter, reviving controversy over the February 28 Minab school strike that killed more than 150 people.

The latest remarks came from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Africa, Iran’s embassy in Yerevan, Armenia and Iran’s embassy in the UK, which linked Leavitt’s personal announcement to the deadly strike in Minab.

The Iranian Embassy in South Africa wrote on X: “When your child grows up and reads history, she will be ashamed that you served one of the most hated governments in history. Your hands are stained with the blood of many innocent children, like the children of Minab.”

Iran’s embassy in Armenia posted a separate message congratulating Leavitt on the birth of her daughter before criticising her role as White House spokesperson during the conflict.

“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 said.

Iran’s embassy in the UK referenced children killed in conflicts involving Iran, Gaza and Lebanon.

“While you celebrate the birth of your own children, you are bombing children in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. This innocent child was one of hundreds of children martyred on the very first day of your illegal attack on Iran,” the embassy had written.

The posts surfaced shortly after Leavitt announced the birth of her second child, Viviana, on X. Sharing a photo, she wrote that her daughter was “perfect and healthy.”

Why has the Minab school strike become controversial again?

The diplomatic posts have renewed attention on the Minab school strike, one of the deadliest incidents during the escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran earlier this year.

Iranian state media reported that 73 boys and 47 girls were among those killed when an elementary school in Minab was hit on February 28. Several teachers, parents and civilians near the school were also reported dead.

The strike happened on the same day the United States and Israel launched attacks across Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes by Tehran on Israeli and Gulf targets.

In March, Leavitt defended the US position and said Washington does not deliberately target civilians.