A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed war crimes in two military strikes in Iran on February 28, including an attack on a primary school in Minab that killed at least 156 people, including about 120 children.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their crackdown on anti-government protests. The report, submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, examined two strikes: one on Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab and another on a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd, which killed 22 civilians, including children.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
The UN mission’s findings center on two key developments:
The Minab school strike: On February 28, a Tomahawk missile struck Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School, killing at least 156 people, including about 120 children, according to local authorities. Investigators determined the school was clearly identifiable and found no evidence it was used for military purposes. Survivors reported the school was struck twice, and experts concluded the attack was the intended point of impact, not collateral damage from a nearby strike on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval complex.
The Lamerd strike: On the same day, a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) dispersed tungsten pellets over a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd, killing at least 22 civilians, including seven children. The mission found this attack also constituted an indiscriminate strike causing civilian harm.
The UN experts concluded both strikes violated international humanitarian law, amounting to war crimes under the Rome Statute and Geneva Conventions.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
UN Findings and Legal Framework
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran was established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations in Iran, including protests and the US-Israel military campaign that began on February 28. The mission’s report, released on September 14, is not a judicial ruling but provides evidence that could support future prosecutions by national courts or the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Key conclusions from the report include:
- Indiscriminate attacks: The mission found the Minab school strike was not an errant missile but a deliberate attack on a civilian target. The school’s proximity to a military complex did not make it a lawful target.
- Civilian harm: The strikes caused mass civilian casualties, with 178 deaths confirmed across both attacks. Survivors and local authorities provided testimony and evidence supporting the findings.
- Iran’s role: The report also documented crimes against humanity committed by Iranian authorities during protests, including the killing of at least 221 children and systematic repression.
Official Responses and Rebuttals
United States: The US State Department and White House rejected the report’s findings. A State Department official stated the UN Human Rights Council "pushes anti-American rhetoric and antisemitism" and accused it of appeasing repressive regimes. The White House spokesperson Anna Kelly claimed "the only party in this conflict that has committed war crimes is the Iranian regime." The US withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in 2025, citing bias.
The Pentagon has not publicly released its investigation into the Minab strike, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated US forces "would never target civilian targets." The BBC noted that Tomahawk missiles are exclusively used by the US military, which the UN cited as evidence supporting its findings.
Iran: Iranian authorities have consistently denied systematic rights violations and rejected allegations of war crimes. The Iranian and US permanent missions in Geneva did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
International Reactions and Implications
The report has drawn attention to broader concerns about accountability in conflicts involving powerful states. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that geopolitical divisions and paralysis in the UN Security Council have created an environment of impunity, allowing powerful countries to flout international law.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have demanded formal investigations into the strikes. The mission urged the 47-member UN Human Rights Council to press for accountability, halt the war, and provide asylum for fleeing civilians.
Timeline of Key Events
- December 28, 2025: Anti-government protests begin in Iran.
- Late December 2025 – Early January 2026: Iranian crackdown on protests, resulting in crimes against humanity, per the UN report.
- February 28, 2026: US and Israel launch military strikes on Iran, including the Minab school and Lamerd attacks.
- September 14, 2026: UN fact-finding mission releases its report.
- September 17, 2026: Report is submitted to the UN Human Rights Council for discussion.
Long-Term Implications
The report’s findings could have lasting legal and diplomatic consequences, including:
- Potential ICC investigations into war crimes allegations.
- Increased scrutiny of US military operations and adherence to international law.
- Calls for UN reform to address perceived bias and impunity.
- Heightened tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, particularly regarding civilian casualties.
The mission emphasized that civilians in Iran are caught between gross human rights violations by their government and the deadly conflict with the US and Israel, calling for urgent action to protect non-combatants.