Archive · 17 Sep 2026
United Nations Experts Cite Possible United States War Crimes
A United Nations team investigated attacks and protests in Iran.
It said there were reasonable grounds to believe United States forces carried out two unlawful attacks.
One attack hit a school in Minab and killed more than 150 people, including about 120 children.
Another attack hit a sports facility and nearby buildings in Lamerd.
The investigators said these attacks were war crimes because civilian places and people were harmed.
The United States has said its military operations follow the laws of war, and its Central Command denied striking Lamerd on the date studied.
The team also said Iran’s government severely abused people during protests over rising living costs.
It reported killings, arrests, torture, disappearances, internet restrictions and executions.
The investigators said they could not independently confirm Iran’s total reported protest death toll.
United Nations investigators found reasonable grounds to believe United States forces committed war crimes in two February 28 strikes in Iran.
A strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab killed more than 150 people, including approximately 120 children, according to the report and Iranian officials.
Investigators called the Minab attack indiscriminate, saying the school was clearly civilian and finding no evidence it was used for military purposes.
The mission also classified a Lamerd sports-centre strike as indiscriminate; reports differed over whether 22 civilians were killed or killed and injured, while United States Central Command denied striking Lamerd that day.
The mission said Iran’s crackdown on late-2025 protests involved crimes against humanity, including killings, torture, arbitrary detention, disappearances and restrictions on expression.
- Who
- The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran examined alleged actions by United States forces and Iranian authorities.
- What
- The mission said two suspected United States strikes may have been war crimes and that Iran’s protest crackdown amounted to crimes against humanity.
- When
- The strikes occurred on February 28; the protests began in late December 2025, and at least 29 protest-linked executions occurred between March and August 2026.
- Where
- The alleged strikes occurred at a primary school in Minab and a sports complex in Lamerd, Iran; protests took place across Iran’s 31 provinces.
- Why
- The mission investigated alleged violations during the Iran war and the Iranian government’s response to nationwide unrest.
United Nations investigation
United States and Iranian responses
Responsibility for the Minab strike
United Nations investigation
The mission said there were reasonable grounds to believe United States forces struck the clearly identifiable Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School, failed to adequately verify intelligence and acted recklessly despite the risk to civilians.
United States and Iranian responses
Donald Trump said nobody purposefully attacked a girls’ school, while the Pentagon has not published its investigation findings. United States officials have said military operations follow the law of armed conflict.
The Lamerd incident
United Nations investigation
The mission said the strike on the sports complex and nearby residential area was indiscriminate, damaged civilian buildings and caused civilian casualties, making it a war crime.
United States and Iranian responses
United States Central Command said United States forces did not launch strikes into Lamerd on the date examined.
Iran’s protest response
United Nations investigation
The mission said Iranian authorities carried out a widespread and systematic attack against civilians involving unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, disappearances and restrictions on expression, amounting to crimes against humanity.
United States and Iranian responses
Iran has rejected allegations of systematic rights violations and blamed terrorists, rioters, exiled opponents and foreign enemies for the unrest.
- Investigating body
- Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran
- Minab casualties
- More than 150 people were killed, including approximately 120 schoolchildren, according to the report and Iranian officials.
- Reported two-strike toll
- One report said at least 178 civilians were killed; the Lamerd account variously described 22 civilians as killed or killed and injured.
- Protest figures
- Iranian official figures cited 3,038 deaths and 25,000 injuries, but the mission could not independently verify them and believed the actual toll may be higher.
- Executions
- At least 29 men were executed between March and August 2026 after expedited trials linked to the protests.
- United States position
- United States officials have said military operations comply with the law of armed conflict; United States Central Command denied striking Lamerd on the date examined.
- Next step
- The findings were due to be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Sources
US strikes on Iran sites are war crimes, Tehran's anti-govt protests is crime against humanity: UN
US Suspected Of War Crimes In Iran, Says United Nations Mission
UN experts cite ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe US committed war crimes in Iran
