Iran accuses US and Israel of war crimes, highlights school attacks

On March 27, 2026, during an emergency session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the United States and Israel of waging an illegal war against Iran. He described the aggression as unjustifiable and marked by extreme brutality, according to Tasnim News Agency.

The minister stated that the attacks began on February 28, while Iran and the United States were engaged in diplomatic negotiations over the nuclear program.

Araghchi expressed particular outrage over a targeted attack on Shajereh Tayybeh Elementary School in Minab, which resulted in the deaths of more than 175 students and teachers. He emphasised that “this attack was premeditated and constitutes a war crime that demands unconditional condemnation and the prosecution of those responsible.”

He further reported that over the past 27 days of conflict, more than 600 schools have been affected, along with hospitals, emergency services, water and energy facilities. “The aggressors are disregarding international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilians, and creating a risk of genocide,” he said.

The minister linked the current aggression to global inaction, citing “indifference to human rights violations in other regions, such as Palestine and Lebanon, as a contributing factor to this escalation.” He called on the international community to openly condemn the actions of the United States and Israel in order to uphold the human rights system and protect civilian populations.

Araghchi stressed that Iran is a peaceful nation with a rich civilizational heritage, but is “fully determined to defend itself against violent aggressors for as long as necessary.”

By Tamilla Hasanova