Iran congratulates WH press secretary on baby's birth, invokes 'Minab' tragedy:'168 children that your boss killed'
PTC News Desk: Iran congratulated White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the birth of her daughter, but also criticised her over the February 28 airstrike on a school in Minab that reportedly killed more than 150 people, including many children.
Leavitt announced on Thursday that she had given birth to her second child, a baby girl named Viviana, and shared a photo of herself holding the newborn in a nursery.
"On May 1st, Viviana aka 'Vivi' joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love," Leavitt, who at 28 is the youngest White House press secretary in history, said on X.
"She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble," she added.
On May 1st, Viviana aka “Vivi” joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love. ????
She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister. We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble.
Thank you to… pic.twitter.com/wM1P1zEGsa — Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) May 7, 2026
While congratulating her, Iran also referred to the Minab school strike and said the children killed in the attack were no different from her own child. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB and local media, 73 boys and 47 girls died in the strike on an elementary school in Minab on February 28.
"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 Iranian Embassy in Armenia wrote on X.
The attack took place on the same day the United States and Israel launched strikes across Iran. In response, Tehran later carried out attacks on targets in Israel and Gulf countries.
IRIB also reported that 26 teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver and a pharmacy technician working at a nearby clinic were killed in the strike.
Earlier in March, Leavitt had said that the United States does not target civilians. Referring to the incident, she stated that the matter was under investigation and accused the Iranian regime of targeting civilians and children, not the United States.
- With inputs from agencies
