In mid-September, the world was shaken by the news: a UN fact-finding mission had published a report alleging that, on 28 February, the US may have committed a war crime on Iranian territory. The focus was on a Tomahawk cruise missile strike targeting a primary school in the town of Minab. More than 150 people were killed in the attack, the majority of whom were children.
US officials insist that their actions were lawful. In June, President Donald Trump stated that the attack was accidental and that the investigation is ongoing. US Assistant Secretary of Defence Sean Parnell emphasised that the US never targets civilians and acts with a high degree of precision. However, the UN report casts serious doubt on these claims.
Another incident occurred in the town of Lamerd, where missiles with tungsten warheads struck a sports complex and a residential area, killing 22 people. US Central Command has refuted the allegations, stating that no strikes were carried out in this area and that the video evidence does not confirm the use of precision-guided missiles.
Meanwhile, within Iran itself, the brutal crackdown on protests in December and January has also come under close scrutiny by the UN. The report details mass killings, arrests and torture, which are classified as crimes against humanity.
The UN mission urges both sides in the conflict to cease all violations and ensure fair compensation for the victims. The organisation also emphasises the need to resume diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and hold those responsible to account.