UN fact-finding mission says US committed possible war crimes in Iran

The mission also said Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their crackdown on protests in late 2025 and early this year.The United States likely committed “war crimes” in Iran when it launched a pair of air strikes that killed at least 178 civilians, including women and children, a United Nations fact-finding mission has found.The report by the UN-independent-international-fact-finding-mission-on-Iran" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="205920" data-entity-type="organization">UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran on Thursday also accused Iran of human rights violations and crimes against humanity during protests last year and in early 2026.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4What do we know about the fatal US bombing of a wedding in Iran?list 2 of 4Mahsa Amini death four years on: Iranians reflect on ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’list 3 of 4After six months of war, what have US, Iran gained and lost?list 4 of 4Abroad and at odds: How the war has divided Iranians in the diasporaend of listThe mission referred to the US attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, which killed over 150 people – including approximately 120 children – on February 28, when the US and Israel launched their war against Iran.The mission also referred to the US air strike on a “clearly identifiable” sports complex and residential area in Lamerd the same day, where precision strike missiles dispersed clouds of tungsten pellets, killing 22 civilian men and women.The findings, to be submitted to the UN-human-rights-council" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="3938" data-entity-type="organization">UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, examined the US’s conduct during the Iran war and the Iranian government’s response to nationwide unrest that began in late December.US air strikes against civiliansThe attack on the school in Minab was conducted with the use of Tomahawk missiles.“The Mission concluded that when identifying and directing its attack against the primary school in Minab, whose civilian nature is apparent, the US failed in its obligation to do everything feasible to verify that it was a military objective,” the report stated.The report’s authors said that photographs and videos depicting the school before and after the strike showed “readily identifiable features” that it was associated with an educational facility for young children.