**Title: UN Report Alleges US War Crimes in Iran, Iranian Government Commits Crimes Against Humanity**
A recent report from a United Nations fact-finding mission has raised serious allegations against both the United States and the Iranian government. Released on Thursday, the report claims that the US is responsible for war crimes linked to military strikes in Iran, while also detailing crimes against humanity perpetrated by Iranian authorities during their crackdown on anti-government protests.
The findings stem from an investigation by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which scrutinized incidents from February, when two military strikes occurred — one on a primary school in Minab and another on a sports facility in Lamerd. The report is set to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
**US Military Strikes in Iran**
According to the UN experts, there are reasonable grounds to believe that US forces conducted an attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, resulting in the deaths of over 150 individuals, including approximately 120 schoolchildren. The report categorizes this strike as an indiscriminate attack that caused civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, thereby constituting a war crime under international law.
The investigation revealed that the US relied on intelligence suggesting that a senior Iranian military commander was present at the school. However, the report criticizes the US for failing to adequately verify this information prior to the strike. The UN experts assert that the US acted recklessly, directing strikes at a civilian object while being aware of the substantial risk of civilian harm.
In a related incident, the report also examined a military strike on a sports center in Lamerd, which led to damage to nearby residential buildings and a school, as well as injuries to 22 civilians. The UN mission concluded that this attack was also indiscriminate, further reinforcing the claim of war crimes.
The US Central Command has denied conducting strikes in Lamerd on the day in question, and US officials have previously stated that military operations comply with the law of armed conflict. An internal military investigation has suggested that US forces may have been responsible for the Minab strike, but preliminary findings have yet to be released publicly.
**Iran's Crackdown on Protests**
In addition to allegations against the US, the UN report details a systematic and widespread attack by Iranian authorities against civilians during protests that erupted in late December 2022. The investigation found evidence of unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression.
The report indicates that the Iranian government's response to the protests, which included violence, internet shutdowns, and the use of the death penalty, marked a significant escalation in its approach to suppressing dissent. Rights groups have reported that bystanders were among those killed during what has been described as the most severe crackdown since the 1979 revolution.
While the UN mission could not independently verify the total number of casualties, it estimates that the actual death toll is likely much higher than the official figures, which state that 3,038 people were killed and 25,000 injured during the protests. The Iranian government has attributed the unrest to "terrorists and rioters" allegedly backed by foreign adversaries, including the US and Israel.
**Conclusion**
The findings of the UN fact-finding mission present a grave picture of the current human rights situation in Iran and the conduct of US military operations in the region. As the report is prepared for submission to the UN Human Rights Council, it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact international relations and discussions surrounding accountability for war crimes and human rights violations.
Both the US and Iranian governments have not yet responded to the report, leaving the allegations unaddressed as the international community awaits further developments.