UN Experts Find Grounds to Believe US Committed War Crimes in Iran Strikes
Geneva, September 17, 2026 — United Nations-backed human rights experts have found reasonable grounds to believe that the United States committed war crimes during two military strikes in Iran earlier this year, including an attack on a primary school in the southern city of Minab.

The findings were released by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, an investigative body established by the United Nations Human Rights Council. According to the mission, the two strikes examined in its report caused the deaths of at least 178 civilians, including women and children.

Deadly Strike on Minab School
One of the main incidents investigated was the February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab. Iranian authorities reported that more than 150 people were killed, including around 120 schoolchildren.

The UN experts concluded that the school was a clearly identifiable civilian building and found no evidence that it was being used for military purposes. They said the United States appeared to have relied on intelligence indicating that an Iranian military commander was present in the area but failed to adequately verify whether the school itself was a legitimate military target.

The investigators therefore concluded that the attack was an indiscriminate attack that caused civilian deaths and damage to civilian infrastructure, which they considered a war crime under international law.

The report also stated that the school had visible features identifying it as an educational facility, including children’s murals, school signs and playground areas. These details were among the factors considered by investigators when assessing whether the civilian nature of the building should have been apparent.

Second Strike in Lamerd
The UN investigation also examined a separate strike in Lamerd, where a sports centre and surrounding residential areas were hit.

According to the investigators, the attack killed and injured 22 civilians and damaged nearby residential buildings and a school. The mission concluded that the sports centre was a clearly identifiable civilian facility and that the strike was indiscriminate, constituting another possible war crime under international law.

However, the United States has disputed responsibility for the Lamerd attack. U.S. Central Command previously stated that American forces did not carry out strikes in Lamerd on that day.

US Position Remains Different
The UN findings do not represent a criminal court judgment. Fact-finding missions investigate alleged violations and publish their conclusions, but they do not themselves prosecute or convict individuals or governments.

U.S. officials have previously maintained that American military operations are conducted in accordance with the law of armed conflict. President Donald Trump also said in June that the school in Minab had not been deliberately targeted, while a Pentagon investigation into the incident has not publicly released its final findings.

Reuters reported that an earlier internal U.S. assessment indicated American forces were likely responsible for the Minab strike, although the assessment suggested the school may have been hit because of outdated intelligence rather than an intentional decision to attack a civilian school.

A Wider Investigation Into Iran
The UN mission’s report also examined the Iranian government’s response to nationwide anti-government protests that began in late 2025. Investigators accused Iranian authorities of serious violations, including unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression.

The mission said it could not independently verify the exact death toll but believed the number of people killed and injured was likely higher than official figures.

The report is expected to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Its findings could contribute to future investigations or accountability efforts, although any criminal prosecution would have to be pursued through appropriate national or international legal mechanisms.

The findings therefore add to the growing international record concerning civilian harm during the conflict. While the UN mission has found reasonable grounds to believe that two U.S. strikes constituted war crimes, the final legal responsibility of individuals would require further judicial proceedings and evidence.

Sources
Reuters — UN mission finds grounds to believe US committed war crimes in Iran, and Tehran crimes against humanity Read Reuters report
Associated Press — UN-backed experts cite possible US war crimes in Iran strikes Read AP report
CBS News/AP — U.N.-backed experts allege U.S. war crimes in Iran Read CBS News report
Al Jazeera — UN fact-finding mission says US committed possible war crimes in Iran Read Al Jazeera report