Israeli Airstrike on Tehran Prison Kills 71, Iran Confirms
TEHRAN||June 29: Iran has confirmed that a deadly Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison in the capital Tehran last Monday killed 71 people, including prison staff, inmates, and civilians, in what Iranian officials have denounced as a war crime.
Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said the attack, which occurred during a wave of Israeli airstrikes across Tehran amid a 12-day conflict, targeted not just the prison’s main compound but also nearby judicial and visitation facilities.
“This was a full-fledged crime by Zionist forces,” Jahangir told Mehr News Agency, emphasizing that administrative staff, conscripted soldiers, prisoners, their visiting relatives, and civilians living near the prison were among the dead. The strike also resulted in numerous injuries.
The assault on Evin Prison, one of Iran’s most well-known detention centers, took place one day before a US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday, bringing a temporary end to the most intense round of hostilities between Israel and Iran in decades.
The 12-day war erupted on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise offensive targeting Iranian military installations, nuclear sites, and civilian infrastructure, including residential areas. Iran’s Health Ministry reported at least 606 deaths and 5,332 injuries during the Israeli onslaught.
In retaliation, Iran launched waves of missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets, killing 29 people and injuring more than 3,400, according to data released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The attack on Evin Prison—a high-security facility known for housing political prisoners, dual nationals, and high-profile detainees—drew immediate condemnation from Iranian authorities and human rights organizations, who called for an international investigation.
The US-sponsored unilateral ceasefire, announced by President Donald Trump and supported by regional actors including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, took effect the day after the prison attack. However, Iranian military leaders have since expressed skepticism over Israel’s commitment to the truce, warning of a forceful response if hostilities resume.
The international community has yet to respond to Iran’s claims regarding the prison attack. Human rights monitors have urged transparency and access to the site for independent verification.
Iranian officials say they are compiling evidence and may seek international legal action against Israel for targeting civilian and judicial infrastructure in violation of international humanitarian law.