A United Nations-backed fact-finding mission reported on Thursday that it found "reasonable grounds" to believe the United States committed war crimes during military operations in Iran. The report cited two February 28 airstrikes: one hitting a school in Minab and another striking a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd. The independent experts also accused the Iranian government of committing crimes against humanity against its own citizens through systematic state violence and repression.
The fact-finding mission was established by the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2022 and is chaired by jurist Sara Hossain. The findings are intended to provide evidence for potential future proceedings in international courts. The experts based their conclusions on 73 interviews, satellite imagery, and video documentation, noting that both the U.S. and Iranian governments have largely declined to cooperate with the investigation or answer requests for information.
According to the report, at least one U.S. missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab occurred; Iranian state media reported that 168 people were killed, the majority of whom were children. The experts concluded the school was the "intended point of impact." A second strike in Lamerd reportedly involved Precision Strike Missiles that killed 22 civilians. U.S. Central Command has denied responsibility for the Lamerd strike, and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The mission further detailed "gross human rights violations" by Iranian security forces, including the use of assault rifles against crowds and the torture of detainees. The report noted that over 70 people in Iran remain at "imminent risk of execution." The experts called on both the United States and Iran to halt all violations and provide reparations to the victims.
The report highlights at least 178 civilian deaths in a single day of U.S. strikes. For an average household in the affected regions, this manifests as the destruction of educational and recreational facilities and the loss of family members. On the Iranian side, the report highlights that more than 70 individuals, including women and children, face the immediate threat of state execution. These findings document the conduct of major world powers and the Iranian government under international human rights law.
What happens next involves the formal presentation of these findings to the 47 member countries of the Human Rights Council on Monday. The documentation serves as a record for international justice efforts. The Trump administration has not yet released the results of a separate internal Pentagon investigation into the school strike. Future diplomatic or legal developments will depend on whether member states choose to act on the evidence provided in this report.