An Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison killed 71 people, Iranian authorities said Sunday, marking one of the deadliest and most politically charged incidents of the recent conflict between Israel and Iran.

A Symbolic Strike Hits Deep

Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir confirmed that the June 23 strike hit Evin’s administrative building, killing detainees, military conscripts, prison staff, family visitors, and nearby civilians. The prison—long known for housing political prisoners and foreign nationals—was not previously listed among military targets.

“This was a strike on the soul of the regime,” one Iranian analyst said, calling it a psychological and symbolic blow.

France Reacts Over Danger to Citizens

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the attack, warning it put French citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris—detained for three years—in direct danger. “It is unacceptable,” he wrote on X, referring to the strike on the prison.

Evin had already been partially evacuated in previous days, with remaining detainees now reportedly transferred to other prisons in Tehran province.

Israel’s Targeting Strategy Expands

While Israel has focused primarily on degrading Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, this strike highlights a new phase: targeting key pillars of Iran’s internal power structure. Observers say the targeting of Evin aligns with psychological warfare objectives aimed at breaking elite morale.

No comment has been issued by Israeli authorities regarding the prison strike.