ISTANBUL

US Senator Mark Warner said Sunday that “a thorough investigation” is needed into a deadly strike in late February on a primary school in Iran’s southern city of Minab amid a joint US-Israeli military operation.

Speaking to CBS News, Warner said he felt “a little disappointed” that President Donald Trump tried to deny the US role in the strike at first or say it was even the Iranians.

“But what I don't want to do is jump to the conclusion, whether it was CENTCOM or whether it was the Defense Intelligence Agency. That's what thorough investigations are supposed to be for. Clearly, it was an American strike,” he said.

He also criticized Trump for unclear messaging about the administration’s goals in the war with Iran, emphasizing that the military operation has had a significant economic impact, noting rising gas prices in his state, Virginia, and farmers reporting that fertilizer costs are up about 40%.

At least 150 schoolgirls were killed in an airstrike on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran that have so far killed around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. More than 10,000 people have been injured in the strikes.

The incident has drawn international attention amid conflicting claims about responsibility but with most analyses saying the strike came from the US.

Trump previously suggested that Iran may have been behind the strike, saying: “Based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.”

After reports emerged that the strike involved Tomahawk cruise missiles commonly used by the US military, he also claimed without citing any evidence that Iran possessed some Tomahawks.

Investigations into the attack are continuing.