UN Experts Find Grounds US Committed Iran War Crimes

UN-appointed independent investigators found reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes in strikes on an Iranian school and sports centre.

Independent investigators appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said they have "reasonable grounds" to believe the United States committed war crimes during two "indiscriminate attacks" against clearly identifiable civilian targets in Iran on 28 February, the opening day of the US-Israeli war. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, chaired by Bangladeshi jurist Sara Hossain, examined a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab and another on a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd.

Although the school sat near an Iranian naval base, the investigators found no evidence it was being used for military purposes. The report concluded the school building was the intended point of impact, not collateral damage from a strike on the adjacent Revolutionary Guard compound. US President Donald Trump initially blamed Iran, and the administration has not accepted responsibility or released findings of a Pentagon investigation.

The mission built its report on interviews with 73 people inside and outside Iran, along with satellite imagery, photographic and video material, and information from credible organizations. It said the Minab school was "clearly identifiable" and that Tomahawk missiles struck it. In Lamerd, it found Precision Strike Missiles dispersed tungsten pellets over a sports complex and residential area, killing 22 civilians and injuring more than 100, and said the missile type is imprecise and "could not be directed at a specific military objective." The report also noted NBC News reporting that a US munition likely hit the school, and CBC News cited Reuters reports that outdated targeting data may have been used.

The same report found the Iranian government committed crimes against humanity by murdering, imprisoning and torturing participants in the 2025-2026 protests, which began in December as economic grievances and evolved into calls for political change across all 31 provinces. The government shut down the internet and mobile communications, used lethal ammunition against protesters and bystanders, and attacked healthcare facilities. At least 221 children were reportedly killed in the crackdowns, according to UN News, which also reports 29 men were executed between March and August after expedited trials. Iran officially reports 3,038 deaths and 25,000 injured, but the mission believes the true figures are significantly higher.

The experts described civilians in Iran as increasingly caught between their government's violent crackdowns and deadly US and Israeli airstrikes. Although the report is not binding, NPR reports it adds to international evidence that could eventually be used in efforts to reach justice in international courts. The mission urged both Iran and the United States to provide relief to Iranian civilians, including guarantees against repeating the alleged crimes and full reparations to those harmed. It also said more than 70 people in Iran, including five women and three boys, remain at imminent risk of execution, according to NPR.

The findings will be presented to the Human Rights Council on Monday, where the mission urged all member states to engage diplomatically with Iran to ensure implementation of its recommendations. Diplomatic fallout is likely: the White House, State Department and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and U.S. Central Command has denied responsibility for the Lamerd strike. Both governments largely stonewalled the investigation, with Iran ignoring nearly three dozen information requests and Washington declining meetings. The experts reiterated the UN's call for all combatants to immediately cease hostilities, pursue a permanent peace, and ensure all allegations are independently investigated and those responsible held to account.