UN Report Accuses US and Iran of War Crimes

A United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reported on September 17 that there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed war crimes during February 28 airstrikes. The report identifies Tomahawk and Precision Strike Missile attacks on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, which killed over 150 people, including approximately 120 children, and a sports center in Lamerd that killed 22 civilians. Investigators concluded the U.S. acted recklessly by failing to verify military objectives and relying on outdated intelligence.

White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the findings as "unserious nonsense," while U.S. Central Command denied responsibility for the Lamerd strike. President Donald Trump denied that U.S. forces purposefully attacked the school, though a White House source attributed the incident to "bad intel" and "old maps."

Simultaneously, the mission found that the Government of Iran committed crimes against humanity during a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters between late 2025 and early 2026. The report details systematic unlawful killings, torture, and arbitrary detentions. While official Iranian figures cite 3,038 deaths, the UN probe and other reports suggest the actual toll is significantly higher, with some estimates exceeding 36,000 deaths.

Amidst these findings, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 to extend energy sanctions through 2031. President Trump claimed Iran has sought a deal to end the seven-month conflict, though Iranian officials maintain that negotiations will not occur until specific conditions are met.