The United Nations human rights office condemned Monday’s Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin prison as a “grave breach of international humanitarian law,” warning that the attack on a non-military facility holding political detainees and foreign nationals could constitute a war crime.

UN: Evin Not a Military Objective

“Evin prison is not a military objective, and targeting it constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law,” UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters Tuesday in Geneva. While the statement stopped short of naming Israel, the implication was clear.

Al-Kheetan said the UN has received reports of fires and casualties inside the facility but could not yet verify exact numbers.

Iran Confirms Casualties and Prisoner Transfers

According to Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir, parts of Evin’s administrative building were hit in the airstrike, leading to deaths and injuries among staff, detainees, and even visiting family members. “We had martyrs (deceased) as well but the number is not yet defined,” Jahangir said on state TV.

Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan reported that detainees had since been relocated to other prisons in Tehran province.

France Reacts: Citizens at Risk

The facility, long infamous for holding political prisoners, also houses numerous dual nationals and foreigners. France’s Foreign Minister condemned the Israeli strike, saying it endangered two French citizens currently detained at Evin. Paris has not disclosed their identities.

Legal and Diplomatic Fallout Expected

The strike marks a dramatic escalation in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iran and could have legal ramifications under the Geneva Conventions. Human rights groups are calling for an independent investigation, while diplomatic tensions rise between Israel and European governments concerned for their nationals.