A United Nations inquiry into the human rights situation in Iran expressed disapproval of the conflict between Iran on one side, Israel, and the United States on the other, saying that the actions of both parties breached international law, as stated in the UN charter.
In their statement on Wednesday, the U.N. Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran stated that the UN charter prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, as well as their political independence.
“These attacks, which were followed by Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the region, run counter to the UN Charter,” they said.
The panel mentioned a recent attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, a city located in the southern part of Iran. This attack took place on Saturday, coinciding with the start of the U.S. and Israeli operations.
According to preliminary reports, the majority of the attack’s victims are schoolchildren between the ages of seven and 12 years. Earlier on Wednesday, a panel of experts affiliated with the U.N. mentioned that over 160 children have allegedly died because of the attack.
The fact-finding mission pointed out that civilians in Iran are currently caught between a military campaign and a government with a well-documented history of violating human rights.
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Since December 28, 2025, tens of thousands of Iranians have been arrested during a clampdown on protests across the country, which were triggered by an economic crisis, a fact-finding mission mentioned.
The detainees are at risk of being subjected to torture and facing the death penalty.
Concerns were raised in the report regarding the airstrikes carried out by the US and Israeli forces, which might further endanger the already imprisoned people in Iran.
Among them are the prisoners in Evin prison in Tehran, where a British couple witnessed explosions in the prison on Tuesday, damaging their section of the prison.
The mission has also touched on the issue of the targeted killings of Iranian leaders, such as the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the airstrikes carried out by the US and Israeli forces.
The statement read that such actions “cannot be considered an acceptable means to deliver justice under international law.”
The panel has pointed out that justice must always be served within the boundaries of the law, noting that the extrajudicial killings of leaders and officials in countries are illegal.
As per the inquiry, the escalation of military activities has heightened humanitarian and human rights concerns.
The infrastructure of the civilian population, including educational centers, medical facilities, and residential areas, has reportedly been affected by the military activities.
The UN mission has called for immediate measures to be taken for the protection of non-combatants, emphasizing that all parties are bound by international humanitarian law to minimize harm to the civilian population.
The strikes signify a significant escalation of tensions within the region.
The operations by the U.S. and Israel are reportedly a response to Iranian activities within neighboring countries, while Iran has launched retaliatory strikes within various locations.
The fact-finding mission emphasized that the military actions by both countries put the civilian population of Iran at greater risk of being harmed, thereby destabilizing the region further.
Human rights organizations have over time reported a litany of abuses by the Iranian government, including the suppression of dissent and the excessive use of force against demonstrators.
The statement by the fact-finding mission noted that these military operations overlap with these internal abuses, raising the risk of civilians being exposed to both the effects of the armed conflict and government reprisal.
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The U.N. fact-finding mission noted that children are disproportionately impacted by government reprisal and external military action.
In addition to the injuries sustained by students at the Minab girls’ school, it noted that there were reports of injuries and disruptions to education for thousands of children.
It reiterated that the protection of children is a priority, especially during armed conflicts.
The statement also sparked concern over Iran’s detention policies.
Those arrested during the protests held in December may be placed in further danger by the military escalation.
The situation in these detention centers, including Evin prison, has become worse because of explosions and damage to these centers.
There has been a call for better observation of these detainees’ safety and providing them with medical care.
The fact-finding mission asked that all parties respect the rules of proportionality and distinction under international law.
This means that civilian populations should not be used as a form of retaliation or leverage. There are legal processes that can be used to prove wrongdoing without using lethal force.
The U.N. panel promised to continue its observation, collection of evidence, and documentation of human rights abuses in the country.
It asked the international community to ensure that military operations are not used to hinder the protection of civilians and the pursuit of accountability for human rights abuses in Iran.