Israel Targets Tehran’s Evin Prison, 71 Dead \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Iranian authorities report that at least 71 people died when Israel struck Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison on June 23. The attack, occurring just before a ceasefire, impacted inmates, staff, soldiers, and visiting family. Rights groups warned the strike blurred civilian and military distinctions.
Quick Looks
- Israel bombed Evin prison on June 23, targeting multiple areas including the infirmary and visitation hall.
- Iran’s judiciary reported 71 deaths: prisoners, staff, soldiers, and visiting family members.
- Human-rights groups criticized the strike, labeling it a violation of civilian-military distinction.
- The attack coincided with a missile strike on a US base and preceded a ceasefire.
- Israel claims it targeted regime infrastructure, while Iran warns it remains ready for further aggression.
- Nuclear program damage is unclear as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access remains restricted.
Deep Look
On June 23, 2025, just one day before a long-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect, a deadly Israeli airstrike hit Evin Prison, one of Tehran’s most infamous detention centers. Iran’s judiciary reported 71 fatalities, a devastating mix of prisoners, guards, soldiers, and visiting family members. The strike triggered international condemnation, particularly from human rights groups, who argue the prison was not a legitimate military target and that its destruction constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The facility, long known for housing political prisoners, activists, and dissidents, was struck during a broad Israeli offensive described by its Defense Ministry as targeting “regime infrastructure and repression bodies” in the heart of Tehran. The Evin Prison complex suffered severe damage to several buildings, including the infirmary, engineering department, judicial affairs office, and visitation hall, where civilians—many of whom had no connection to Iran’s military or nuclear programs—were killed or injured.
Civilian Casualties and Rights Violations
The strike has drawn scrutiny from organizations like the Center for Human Rights in Iran, which issued a statement asserting that the attack “violated the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians.” The group emphasized that Evin Prison, while symbolic of Iran’s authoritarian control, is still classified as a civilian facility under international law, and its targeting raises serious legal and ethical concerns.
Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir confirmed the scale of the tragedy in a post on Mizan News, the judiciary’s official media outlet. While details remain unverified independently, the Iranian government has not allowed international media or human rights observers direct access to the site, further complicating verification of the full death toll.
According to Iranian authorities, some victims were treated on site, while others were transported to nearby hospitals. The attack’s most high-profile fatality was Ali Ghanaatkar, Iran’s top prosecutor, who played a key role in the prosecution of notable figures like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. Ghanaatkar’s death has been used by the Iranian government as a symbol of martyrdom in the face of foreign aggression, with a massive state-sponsored funeral procession held in Tehran.
12 Days of Violence Before the Ceasefire
The strike on Evin was part of a wider Israeli military campaign that unfolded over 12 intense days leading up to the ceasefire. According to Israel’s military, the operation resulted in the deaths of 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, and destroyed eight nuclear-related sites along with more than 720 military infrastructure targets.
The Washington-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that over 1,000 people were killed during this period, with at least 417 identified as civilians—a figure that has fueled calls for war crimes investigations.
In retaliation, Iran fired over 550 ballistic missiles into Israeli territory. While most were intercepted by Israel’s advanced missile defense systems, several struck populated areas, killing 28 civilians and causing significant property damage.
On the same day as the prison bombing, Iran launched a missile strike against a U.S. military base in Qatar. No casualties were reported in that incident, but it added to the already volatile regional situation.
Global Reaction and UN Appeal
In response to the violence, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi penned a formal letter to the United Nations, calling on the international body to recognize Israel and the United States as “aggressors.” He demanded “compensation and reparation” for Iran and urged the UN Security Council to hold both nations accountable to prevent similar acts of “heinous aggression” in the future.
In his letter, Araghchi stressed Iran’s sovereignty and argued that the international community had a moral and legal obligation to condemn the targeting of Iranian civilians and infrastructure. Iranian state media has since framed the conflict as a defensive war in which Iran responded only after being attacked.
Nuclear Program Remains in Limbo
While much of the world’s attention has turned to the human cost of the conflict, questions remain about Iran’s nuclear program, which was the original focus of Israel’s strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in a recent speech that American and Israeli actions had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, international experts disagree with that characterization.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a CBS Face the Nation interview that while the program suffered serious damage, it was not entirely destroyed. He warned that without on-the-ground inspections, the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Grossi noted that Iran still possesses the industrial and technological capacity to restart its nuclear ambitions should it choose to do so.
Iran, for its part, has not allowed IAEA inspectors access to the affected facilities, citing security concerns and accusing the agency of bias. The international community continues to urge transparency, fearing that the conflict may drive Iran to pursue its nuclear goals more aggressively under the radar.
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