UN Rights Chief Urges US to Conclude Probe Into Deadly Iran School Strike
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on the United States to swiftly complete and publish the findings of its investigation into a deadly strike on a primary school in southern Iran.
Speaking during an urgent session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk described the bombing as an incident that “evoked a visceral horror,” stressing that justice must be delivered for the victims.
The strike targeted Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab on the first day of last month’s conflict, reportedly killing at least 168 people, including about 110 children, according to Iranian authorities. The attack involved two missile strikes carried out in quick succession.
US media reports indicate that American military investigators believe US forces may have unintentionally carried out the strike. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ранее confirmed that an investigation was underway.
Türk emphasised that those responsible must conduct a prompt, transparent, and impartial inquiry, adding that the findings should be made public without delay.
“The images of bombed-out classrooms and grieving parents showed clearly who pays the highest price for war,” he said, noting that civilians often bear the brunt of conflicts.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told the UN session via video link that the strike was “deliberate and intentional,” condemning it as an atrocity that must not go unpunished.
Pressure has also mounted within the United States, where nearly all Senate Democrats have demanded answers from the Pentagon. In a letter addressed to Hegseth, lawmakers questioned whether the US carried out the strike and raised concerns over possible errors in target identification.
The Pentagon has said it will respond directly to the lawmakers, maintaining that US forces do not deliberately target civilians.
According to a report by The New York Times, officials at US Central Command may have relied on outdated intelligence data when determining the strike coordinates. The intended target was reportedly a nearby base linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), located adjacent to the school.
Further analysis of video footage and satellite imagery suggests the use of a Tomahawk cruise missile, a weapon system associated with US military operations, reinforcing suspicions of American involvement.
If confirmed, the incident could rank among the deadliest cases of civilian casualties linked to US military action in the Middle East in recent decades.
