A United Nations inquiry has found “reasonable grounds” to believe that US forces carried out actions in Iran that may amount to war crimes, citing two airstrikes that killed more than 170 civilians. Washington has rejected the assessment.
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran focused on a Tomahawk missile strike on a primary school in Minab, which killed more than 150 people, and a separate missile attack on a clearly identifiable sports facility and nearby residential areas that killed 22 civilians.
The findings could deepen tensions between the United States and the UN human rights system while giving greater international attention to Iranian allegations over US military operations. The mission’s wording does not represent a final ruling by an international court. It says there are reasonable grounds to believe that the attacks may have caused civilian deaths and damage to civilian objects, issues that could require further investigation.
Inquiry identifies Minab school as intended target
Investigators said the Minab school was the intended point of impact. They found that the damage was not the result of an accidental strike or incidental harm from an attack on an Iranian Revolutionary Guard facility nearby.
The mission said it had found no information indicating that the school was being used for military purposes when it was hit. If those facts are confirmed, an attack on a school with no military function that results in a large number of deaths could raise questions under international humanitarian law, including the obligations to distinguish military targets from civilian objects and to avoid indiscriminate attacks.
The second strike hit a sports facility and residential areas. Investigators also listed that incident for further examination, including the nature of the targets and the circumstances surrounding the civilian deaths.
The mission has also accused Iran of human rights violations and said crimes against humanity had occurred inside the country. Its report therefore does not focus solely on US forces; it records allegations involving civilian protection and human rights by multiple parties to the conflict.
State Department and White House reject findings
A US State Department official said Washington did not accept the mission’s conclusions. The official accused UN bodies of repeatedly making anti-American and antisemitic statements while taking an accommodating approach toward repressive regimes. The US Defense Department had not responded to the findings.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Iran’s regime was the only party in the conflict to have committed war crimes. The administration’s response makes clear that Washington rejects the mission’s legal assessment of US military actions and is redirecting attention to Iran’s military conduct and human rights record.
The United States withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in February 2025 under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump and stopped funding some UN bodies. The White House said at the time that the actions of certain UN institutions and entities, including the Human Rights Council, were inconsistent with US interests.
Iran delegation cleared to attend UN General Assembly
The findings emerged as signs of a possible restart of talks over the conflict in the Middle East. Government officials said Gulf Arab states, the United States and Iran could meet during next week’s UN General Assembly, although the timing and participation arrangements had not been finalized.
The United States has approved the Iranian delegation’s travel to New York for the General Assembly. A State Department spokesperson said members of the delegation would face travel restrictions and would not be allowed to purchase luxury goods or other restricted products.
The delegation is expected to include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. For markets, the simultaneous emergence of the UN findings and possible diplomatic contacts keeps attention on US-Iran military activity, sanctions arrangements and risks to regional shipping and energy supplies.
What remains clear is that Washington and Tehran sharply disagree over responsibility for the airstrikes. The reported death tolls and the status of the sites hit may still be subject to further investigation.