White House Slams UN Report Alleging US War Crimes in Iran

The White House has issued a strong rebuttal to a United Nations-sponsored investigation that concluded there are "reasonable grounds" to believe the United States committed war crimes during recent airstrikes in Iran. The report also called for "full reparations to victims."

"The UN Human Rights Council has accomplished nothing for human rights while spouting unserious nonsense for decades," said White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly. "The only party in this conflict that has committed war crimes is the Iranian regime, which has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region."

The investigation, conducted by the 47-member Human Rights Council, focused on two U.S. airstrikes that occurred on February 28, the first day of the war. According to the investigators, one strike hit a school in Minab, allegedly resulting in the deaths of 178 civilians. A second strike targeted a "clearly identifiable sports complex and residential area" in Lamerd, with investigators alleging it killed 22 civilians.

The UN statement indicated that the "mission found reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects," and specifically assessed that "the building of the school was the intended point of impact."

President Trump's administration defended the decision to initiate the war on February 28, stating that the action was taken to prevent Iran, described as a "rogue regime," from acquiring nuclear weapons and posing a threat to global stability. "The President is courageously ensuring that such an evil country never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable," Kelly added.

The UN General Assembly is scheduled to formally receive the investigative report on Monday, as President Trump prepares to attend meetings for the annual UN General Assembly.