In a brief interview, he said the country’s hardened military should simply surrender their weapons to the Iranian public.
Videos and images verified by The New York Times showed that at least half of the school was destroyed. It was not immediately clear why the school was hit, or which country’s forces had fired at it.
The grim toll signaled that Iran was more prepared for war than the Trump administration anticipated, U.S. military officials said.
The toll in Beit Shemesh was the highest in Israel since the start of the conflict with Iran on Saturday.
Student groups reported protests at universities in Iran’s two largest cities as the government grapples with domestic discontent and the threat of U.S. strikes.
Ceremonies commemorating the 40 days after protesters were killed are planned this week, challenging the authorities’ ability to restrain them.
The authorities moved to suppress shows of defiance at ceremonies commemorating 40 days since the death of protesters.
In the aftermath of another wave of antigovernment unrest, Iran is gripped by a mood of collective grief and uncertainty about the future.
Gaza officials said the Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 Palestinians. Israel said one of its soldiers was critically wounded in the attack by Palestinian gunmen.
Deadly blasts, including one that may have been caused by a gas leak, raised anxiety in the country. “Society is waiting for war,” one Iranian said.