A United Nations fact-finding mission said Thursday that it has reasonable grounds to believe that some U.S. military strikes carried out in Iran may have violated international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.
The findings focus on strikes on civilian locations, including a primary school in Minab and a sports facility in Lamerd. According to the U.N. mission, the attacks resulted in significant civilian casualties.
The findings are not a court judgment, and a Pentagon investigation into aspects of the strikes remains ongoing.
The same U.N. mission also accused Iranian authorities of crimes against humanity in connection with their response to anti-government protests, citing alleged unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances.
The report comes at a critical moment in the U.S.–Iran conflict. President Donald Trump said this week that he hopes the war is moving toward an end, while diplomatic discussions involving Gulf countries are expected to focus on the region’s future and security.
The new U.N. findings could add another layer of international scrutiny to a conflict that has already caused thousands of casualties, disrupted global energy markets and sharply reduced commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Neither the U.S. nor Iranian governments had immediately responded to the U.N. mission’s latest findings when Reuters reported the story.
USA Pulse will continue following developments involving the United States, Iran and the wider Middle East.