# UN Says US May Have Committed War Crimes in Iran Strikes

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/un-says-us-may-have-committed-war-crimes-in-iran-strikes
- Published: 2026-09-18T07:03:18.450724+00:00
- Topics: iran, war-crimes, united-nations, human-rights, military-strikes

## What the left says
- The strikes killed at least 177-178 civilians, including more than 120 children at a primary school, underscoring the human toll of an aggressive military campaign.
- The administration has repeatedly threatened civilian infrastructure and shrugged off war crimes questions, reflecting a broader pattern of norm-breaking conduct in the conflict.
- The U.S. failed to respond to the UN mission's requests for information and hasn't fully accounted for the school strike months after it occurred, raising accountability concerns.
- Independent international investigators, not partisan actors, concluded the attacks were indiscriminate and lacked adequate verification of military targets before striking.

## What the right says
- The White House dismisses the UN Human Rights Council as an institution that has 'accomplished nothing for human rights' while producing biased findings against the U.S.
- The administration argues Iran's regime is the true perpetrator of war crimes, citing its killing of thousands of its own citizens, terrorism, and attacks on neighboring countries.
- The U.S. denies carrying out the sports center strike entirely and says it is still investigating the school strike, cautioning against premature conclusions.
- The findings are non-binding and come from a body with a history of scrutinizing the U.S. and its allies, which critics see as reflecting institutional bias rather than neutral fact-finding.

## Common ground
- The Feb. 28 strikes on the Minab school and the Lamerd sports complex killed at least 177-178 civilians, including more than 120 children.
- The U.S. has not fully confirmed responsibility for both strikes, with CENTCOM denying the sports center attack and still reviewing the school strike.
- The UN fact-finding mission also found Iran's government committed crimes against humanity, including mass executions and violent crackdowns on protesters.
- The report is non-binding but could factor into future international legal proceedings.

## Sources
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/17/iran-war-crimes-un-mission-finds) (Lean Left)
- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm9w4n5nverdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) (Center)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-un-war-crimes-iran-deal/) (Lean Left)
- [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/us-warns-russia-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant/index.html) (Lean Left)
- [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/04/18/india-ex-lawmaker-atiq-ahmed-assassination-sud-pkg-contd-ovn-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn) (Lean Left)
- [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/world/asia/us-iran-school-strike-report.html) (Lean Left)
- [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/17/nx-s1-5972934/us-iran-war-un-report-alleged-war-crimes) (Lean Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6096072-un-accuses-us-iranian-war-crimes/) (Center)

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