UN fact-finding mission reports possible US war crimes in Iran
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran examined two US strikes carried out in February. The mission said there were reasonable grounds to believe the attacks amounted to war crimes.
School strike in Minab raises major concerns
One strike hit Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, killing more than 150 people. The UN said about 120 children were among those killed in the attack.
The mission said the school had clear signs showing that it was a civilian education facility. It said the US failed to do everything possible to confirm that the site was a military target before the attack.
The school reportedly had children’s murals, school signs and playground areas that were visible before the strike. The UN also said satellite images appeared to show children gathered in the school’s courtyard.
Second strike also examined
The UN mission also investigated a US strike on a sports complex and nearby residential area in Lamerd. It said the attack killed 22 civilian men and women.
According to the report, the sports complex was clearly separate from a nearby facility linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The mission said this raised questions about how the target was identified.
US President Donald Trump said in June that “nobody” purposefully attacked a girls’ school in Iran. The Pentagon has not publicly released its findings from its investigation into the school strike.
UN also accuses Iran over protests
The UN mission separately accused Iranian authorities of serious human rights violations during protests in late 2025 and early 2026. It cited unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Iranian authorities have reported 3,038 deaths and 25,000 injuries during the unrest, but the UN mission said the actual numbers could be higher. It said it could not independently verify the exact total.
Tehran has said many deaths were caused by “rioters” and has linked the unrest to opponents abroad as well as the US and Israel. The UN mission has urged both Iran and the US to end hostilities and seek a lasting diplomatic solution.
Findings move toward UN review
The mission’s findings are due to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The report is part of wider international efforts to document alleged violations during the conflict and unrest.
The mission has called for reparations for victims and an end to human rights violations. Its findings do not themselves decide criminal responsibility in a court, but they can contribute to future accountability efforts.
The report puts fresh attention on civilian harm during the Iran conflict. Its findings also show that the UN is examining serious allegations against both US actions and Iranian authorities.
The key issue now is how the findings will be reviewed and whether they lead to further investigations. The US has rejected the allegations, while the UN mission says its conclusions are based on its investigation and available evidence.
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