- Title: UN rights chief urges US to conclude probe into deadly Iran school strike
- Date: 27th March 2026
- Summary: Iran's Supreme Leader at the time, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on January 3 vowed not to yield after U.S. President Trump threatened to come to the aid of protesters, as rights groups reported a sharp rise in arrests following days of unrest sparked by soaring inflation. TEHRAN, IRAN (FILE - JANUARY 3, 2026) (POOL VIA WANA - No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: High Commissioner Human rights council Iran Israel US attack school war
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN, IRAN
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN, IRAN
- Country: Iran
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA007789927032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: United Nations rights chief Volker Turk urged Washington to conclude its investigation into a fatal strike on a primary school in Iran at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting on Friday (March 27), with some states voicing outrage over the incident.
The emergency debate at the Geneva council was called by Iran to discuss the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School which Tehran says killed more than 175 children and teachers on the first day of the nearly month-long regional war that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Reuters reported on March 5 that U.S. military investigators believed it was likely that U.S. forces were responsible but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation. The Pentagon has since elevated the probe. Israel has also said it was investigating the incident.
Turk called for Washington to conclude its probe as soon as possible and publish the results.
The Israeli and U.S. diplomatic missions to the United Nations in Geneva did not immediately respond to further questions about the incident and the status of their investigations.
Their seats were empty as both have disengaged from the body, alleging an anti-Israel bias.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the council by video link to condemn the attack.
China's ambassador Jia Guide said he was deeply shocked.
Multiple other countries like Switzerland and Norway said they were appalled while also drawing attention to Iran's own human rights violations.
(Production: Cecile Mantovani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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