Attacks and human rights violations affecting civilians in Iran were addressed in a new report published during the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the United States may have committed war crimes in its attacks on Iran.
The report said that, alongside attacks by the United States and Israel, serious human rights violations by the Iranian government and its crackdown on protests also affected civilians. The attacks caused deaths and injuries and damaged civilian targets.
Crackdown on protests and executions
The commission described the Iranian government’s response to protests in 2025 and 2026 as an “unprecedented” escalation. According to the report, the use of lethal force expanded during this period, large numbers of people were detained, and many people were killed or injured.
The report also criticized measures restricting protesters’ access to the internet in Iran. The commission further said that the use of the death penalty had expanded.
29 people executed
The report said that 29 people were executed between March and August 2026 in cases linked to the protests.
178 civilians killed in two airstrikes
According to the commission’s assessment, following the US and Israeli attacks on February 28, there were reasonable grounds to believe that the United States may have committed war crimes by carrying out indiscriminate attacks. At least 178 civilians, including women and children, were killed in two separate airstrikes.
The commission called on Iran and the United States to immediately end all violations and crimes, provide full reparations to victims and prevent violations from recurring.
