The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran presented its findings to the General Assembly for the first time, revealing a sharp deterioration in the country’s human rights situation following Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed over 1,000 people. According to Iranian Government data, 276 civilians, including 38 children and 102 women, were among the dead, and more than 5,600 were injured. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, was damaged, and the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran was struck during visiting hours, killing around 80 people, including inmates, staff, and visitors.
In response to the strikes, Iran launched missile attacks on Israel, which authorities said resulted in 31 deaths and over 3,300 injuries. However, the Fact-Finding Mission’s chair, Sara Hossain, warned that Iran’s domestic reaction has led to intensified repression, undermining the right to life and basic freedoms. Investigators documented the arrest of thousands of lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders, and individuals posting opinions on social media. The mission noted a surge in executions — the highest since 2015 — with many cases violating international human rights standards. Iran has also expanded the death penalty for “espionage” and criminalized online dissent, raising concerns about possible crimes against humanity.
The crackdown has disproportionately affected ethnic and religious minorities, with hundreds of Kurds and Arabs detained and large numbers of Afghans deported. Members of the Baha’i community were targeted with accusations of espionage, home raids, and property confiscation. The mission also reported rising gender-based violence, including at least 60 femicide cases between March and September 2025, often committed with impunity. Businesses serving women who refused to wear the mandatory hijab were shut down, and the “morality police” have reportedly resumed street patrols.
Investigators further documented instances of transnational repression, with Iranian authorities threatening and surveilling the families of journalists abroad. Over 45 media workers in seven countries were found to have faced credible threats. Hossain emphasized that denying justice perpetuates victims’ suffering and erodes Iran’s obligations under international law to ensure accountability and reparations.
In her report to the General Assembly, UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato condemned the Israeli and US airstrikes as unlawful under the UN Charter but also warned that “external aggression has fuelled deeper internal repression” in Iran. She described the rising executions as part of a “policy of fear and retribution” and denounced unfair trials and vague national security charges. Sato also highlighted Iran’s growing transnational repression against dissidents and urged UN Member States to support at-risk Iranian civil society actors and coordinate efforts to safeguard them from government intimidation and violence.
