UN report finds US likely committed war crimes in Iran air strikes
A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded that the United States likely committed war crimes during the Iran conflict, while also accusing Tehran of crimes against humanity during recent domestic protests.
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran has released a report concluding that the United States likely committed war crimes during air strikes that killed at least 178 civilians in Iran. The findings, prepared for submission to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, mark a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the military conduct of both the US and Iranian governments.
The report specifically examines the US attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab on 28 February, the same day the US and Israel launched their war against Iran. The strike, conducted with Tomahawk missiles, killed over 150 people, including approximately 120 children. The mission found that the US failed in its obligation to verify that the school was a military objective, noting that photographs and satellite imagery showed "readily identifiable features" of an educational facility, such as child-oriented murals, school signage, and playground areas.
A second incident cited in the report involves a US air strike on a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd on the same day. Precision strike missiles dispersed clouds of tungsten pellets, killing 22 civilian men and women. The mission determined that the sports centre was "visibly separate" from an adjacent compound belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This finding contrasts with a March statement from US Central Command, which claimed that US forces did not launch any strikes into the city of Lamerd on that day.
The report also addresses the Iranian government's response to nationwide unrest that began in late December 2025. The mission accused Iranian authorities of committing crimes against humanity through internet shutdowns, unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances. While the Iranian government reported a toll of 3,038 killed and 25,000 injured, the UN mission stated that the number of deaths and injuries by state forces is likely much higher, though exact figures could not be verified.
In June, US President Donald Trump stated that "nobody" purposefully attacked the girls' school in Iran, citing an investigation for which the Pentagon has not yet published findings. The UN report challenges this narrative by detailing the specific failures in the identification process prior to the strike.
The mission has urged both the United States and Iran to immediately end hostilities and provide reparations to victims. It further recommended that both nations seek permanent peace through diplomatic means, highlighting the need for institutional accountability in resolving the ongoing conflict.
