Iran Says US Attacks on Lamerd Constitute War Crime

Iran has described the US attacks on the southern city of Lamerd on February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli aggression against the country, as a clear case of war crime. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said investigations showed that prohibited weapons and cluster missiles were used against civilian locations, including a sports stadium, football field, school, blood transfusion center and residential areas. Speaking at a sports hall targeted in the attack, Baghaei said four missiles struck the city of around 30,000 people within 35 seconds, killing 21 people and injuring nearly 180 others.

Baghaei said the nature and impact of the attack demonstrated what he described as its deliberate and criminal dimensions. He said Iran would pursue justice through technical and legal documentation before international courts and organizations, while seeking accountability for authorities and individuals who allegedly provided misleading reports or media justifications that contributed to the attacks. He also called on the international community to condemn what Iran considers a serious crime against civilians.

The Iranian spokesman further accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General Rafael Grossi of contributing to the circumstances surrounding the attack through what he described as ambiguous and inaccurate reports on Iran’s nuclear program. Baghaei pointed to the timing of the military operation, saying it came one day after an IAEA report was published. His remarks followed a move by the US and European allies to refer Iran’s nuclear case to the UN Security Council, a step rejected by Tehran as unfair, with Iran, Russia and China criticizing the handling of the issue while Iran’s military and civilian sites have come under attack.