An independent United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” US forces committed war crimes in Iran during two military strikes carried out in February 2026.
The findings are contained in a major report due to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The report examines the conduct of both sides during the escalation of hostilities, while also documenting alleged crimes against humanity committed by Iranian authorities during a violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
Minab School Strike Under Investigation
One of the investigation’s most serious findings concerns a US strike on February 28, 2026, against the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, Hormozgan province.
Iranian officials said the attack killed more than 150 people, including approximately 120 schoolchildren. The UN mission found that the school was a clearly identifiable civilian site and found no evidence that it was being used for military purposes.
Investigators said US intelligence had indicated that a senior Iranian commander might be in the vicinity. However, according to the report, the information was not sufficiently verified before the attack, and the targeting database was not updated. A Tomahawk missile was subsequently launched against the location.
The investigators concluded that the circumstances went beyond simple negligence. They said US forces acted recklessly despite being aware of the significant risk to civilians. The strike was therefore classified as an indiscriminate attack and a war crime.
Lamerd Sports Facility Also Targeted
The UN mission also examined a separate US strike on a sports facility in Lamerd. The attack killed or wounded 22 civilians and caused damage to nearby residential properties.
Investigators similarly classified the Lamerd strike as an indiscriminate attack amounting to a war crime.
UN Documents Alleged Crimes by Iranian Forces
The report also examined Iran’s domestic response to nationwide economic protests that began in late December 2025.
UN investigators determined that Iranian security forces carried out what they described as a “widespread and systematic attack” against civilians. The investigation documented allegations of unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances.
The mission classified the alleged conduct as crimes against humanity.
Iranian state sources reported 3,038 deaths and 25,000 injuries during the unrest. However, UN investigators said the actual number of casualties is likely to be considerably higher.
US and Iran Yet to Issue Immediate Responses
Neither the US nor Iranian permanent missions in Geneva immediately issued public statements following the report’s release.
Washington has previously maintained that its military operations comply with the law of armed conflict. However, an internal Pentagon review of the Minab school strike has not been made public.
Tehran, meanwhile, has continued to blame foreign-backed unrest for civilian casualties and has denied allegations that Iranian security forces carried out systematic human rights abuses.