The U.S. rejected a U.N. fact-finding report that found "reasonable grounds" to believe American forces committed war crimes in Iran, including a strike on a school in Minab, while reiterating its commitment to civilian protection. Fighting and strikes across the region have driven diesel and crude prices higher and damaged U.S. bases in the Middle East. Diplomatic talks that began in June have collapsed, and President Trump said he faces a major decision on whether to escalate military action against Iran.
U.S. Rebukes U.N. Findings on Minab School Strike as War with Iran Continues — Fuel Prices Spike, Bases Suffer Heavy Damage
Janis Laizans/Reuters - PHOTO: An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet is pictured at the Siauliai air base, in Siauliai, Lithuania, on Sept. 15, 2026.
President Donald Trump announced the start of "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, describing large joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on military, government and infrastructure sites. Diplomatic efforts in June produced talks aimed at a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities, but those negotiations collapsed as exchanges of strikes continued and the Strait of Hormuz emerged as a recurring flashpoint. In August, Trump said the U.S. would pursue a "crushing economic operation" intended to force Tehran to capitulate.
U.N. Fact-Finding Report and U.S. Response
A United Nations fact-finding mission concluded there are "reasonable grounds to believe" U.S. forces committed war crimes in Iran, including in a strike on a primary school in Minab. The report — based largely on open-source information — said the Minab attack "went beyond mere negligence," alleging strikes were directed at the school building while those responsible "were aware of a substantial risk" of hitting a civilian object and acted recklessly.
The State Department rejected the report's findings and reiterated that the U.S. places a high priority on protecting civilians. A department official noted the Trump administration formally withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council and questioned the council's credibility, and referred operational inquiries to the Department of Defense. Investigators said they had requested information and meetings with U.S. officials but received no responses.
Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People sit near a television screen showing a Yonhap news broadcast of South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung holding a press conference at the Blue House, at a train station in Seoul on Sept. 18, 2026.
The U.N. mission also concluded Iranian authorities likely committed crimes against humanity during a domestic crackdown earlier this year, and said verified casualty figures were probably higher than Iran's official counts of 3,038 killed and 25,000 injured.
Regional Military Developments
Military tensions across the region have continued. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed an Italian Eurofighter Typhoon (F-2000) was "hit" during an attack on King Fahad (Taif) Air Base in southwestern Saudi Arabia; Crosetto said the aircraft was struck while positioned in a remote area and that no Italian personnel or infrastructure were reported injured or damaged. Houthi forces in Yemen — backed by Iran — have claimed responsibility for multiple recent drone and missile strikes on the base.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire that was later extinguished and leaving the crew safe. Saudi civil defense officials said shrapnel from a downed Houthi drone killed at least one person and injured two others in Taif Governorate.
Obtained by ABC News - PHOTO: This image independently obtained by ABC News shows damage to at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, from an Iranian attack.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Seoul will not dispatch troops or otherwise become directly involved in the U.S.-Iran war, though South Korea is weighing contributions to future maritime security operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Economic Impact
Markets have reflected the conflict's disruptions. As of Friday morning, the U.S. national average for diesel was near a record-high of $6.43 per gallon, while the nationwide average for regular gasoline was $4.47 per gallon — up roughly $1.53 since the war began. Global crude benchmarks stayed above $100 a barrel: Brent traded around $103 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate near $102 per barrel.
Images and Damage Assessments
Photos and video obtained by ABC News show severe damage at several U.S. facilities in the Middle East following Iranian attacks, including damage at bases in Kuwait and at a Saudi base that hosts U.S. assets. A senior U.S. service member told ABC News that repairing the damage could take "decades." One image showed damage at Prince Sultan Air Base after an attack.
Alex Brandon/AP Photo - PHOTO: Trump
Diplomacy, Statements and Sanctions
President Trump told Axios he has a "big decision" coming on whether to take more aggressive action against the Iranian regime, even using the phrase "go in and annihilate" in the interview. Trump said he is weighing options and did not indicate whether a decision would come before or after upcoming U.S. midterm elections.
Separately, the State Department extended visa restrictions on Palestinian Authority and PLO officials, citing failures to meet legal commitments and accusing them of "glorifying terrorism." The measures bar high-level Palestinian participation in the upcoming U.N. General Assembly high-level week, with a limited carveout for staff attached to the PLO observer mission.
What To Watch Next
Key developments to monitor include any U.S. or allied operational responses to regional attacks, whether Tehran and Washington re-engage in diplomacy, the humanitarian fallout in Iran and Yemen, and short-term impacts on global energy markets and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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