At the UN Human Rights Council, the attack on a primary school in the Iranian town of Minab was strongly criticised. The special debate was held on 27 March at the request of Iran, China and Cuba in the 61st session.

China's ambassador to the UN Office at Geneva, Jia Guide, said 168 young girls were killed in the attack. He described the act as shocking and unacceptable, saying it constituted a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. China strongly condemned the incident and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims.

Jia Guide also criticised the United States and Israel, which he said had carried out the attack on Iran without a UN Security Council mandate. It was these actions, he said, that contributed to the escalation of tensions in the region and the spread of conflict in the Middle East.

He stressed that it was essential to respect the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all states. China, he said, rejected any action that violated international law or led to attacks on civilians and non-military targets.

He concluded by calling on all parties to the conflict to prioritise dialogue and diplomatic negotiations over the use of force. He said that every opportunity must be taken to calm the situation, protect the fundamental rights of the population and contribute to stability in the region.

CMG