Iran acknowledges schoolgirls poisoning, Supreme Leader says 'severe punishment' for 'unforgivable' crime

Iran's supreme leader said Monday that if a series of suspected poisonings at girls' schools are proven to be deliberate the culprits will receive the "most severe penalty" for committing an “unforgivable crime.”

It was the first time Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, has spoken publicly about the suspected poisonings, which began late last year and have sickened hundreds of children.

Iranian officials only acknowledged them in recent weeks and have provided no details on who may be behind the attacks or what chemicals — if any — have been used.

Unlike neighboring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women's education.

"Intelligence bodies and police must pursue this and find the roots of this crime and its perpetrators, they must be condemned to the most severe penalty possible, because this is not a small crime. It's a crime against the most innocent elements of a community, the children," Khamenei told Iranian news agency, IRINN.

Authorities have acknowledged suspected attacks at more than 50 schools across 21 of Iran's 30 provinces since November.

Videos of upset parents and schoolgirls in emergency rooms with IVs in their arms have flooded social media.

Iran has imposed stringent restrictions on independent media since the outbreak of nationwide protests in September, making it difficult to determine the nature and scope of the suspected poisonings.

The children affected in the poisonings have reportedly complained of headaches, heart palpitations, feeling lethargic or otherwise unable to move.

Some described smelling tangerines, chlorine or cleaning agents.

Reports suggest at least 400 schoolchildren have fallen ill since November.

There have been no reported fatalities.

As more attacks were reported Sunday, videos were posted on social media showing children complaining about pain in the legs, abdomen and dizziness.

State media have mainly referred to these as “hysteric reactions.”

The World Health Organization documented a similar phenomenon in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012, when hundreds of girls across the country complained of strange smells and poisoning.

No evidence was found to support the suspicions, and the WHO said it appeared to be “mass psychogenic illnesses.”

Also watch: Iran officials say over 50 schools affected by suspected poisoning of girls