Israel Bombs Iran’s Evin Prison in Tehran—Described as Largest Strike on the Capital to Date
In a move widely interpreted as a dramatic escalation in the Israel–Iran conflict, Israeli fighter jets struck Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison on June 23, 2025, deploying bunker-buster munitions and precision-guided missiles in what Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described as the “deepest and most symbolic strike yet” on the Iranian capital.
The airstrike, one of the most powerful since hostilities between the two nations intensified in recent weeks, specifically targeted the Evin Prison complex, a facility long associated with the Islamic Republic’s internal repression, political imprisonment, and intelligence operations. The prison, located in northern Tehran, is notorious for housing journalists, political dissidents, dual nationals, and foreign detainees, many of whom have been subjected to harsh conditions and allegations of torture.
Video footage released by Israeli officials showed a massive explosion engulfing a section of the prison, sending a plume of smoke and debris into the night sky. Satellite images later confirmed structural damage to at least two northern blocks of the compound. The Iranian judiciary acknowledged the destruction, reporting that while numerous wings were damaged, no inmate fatalities have yet been confirmed, though multiple injuries were noted among staff and prisoners.
Israeli officials have justified the strike as a necessary blow against Iran’s internal security infrastructure, describing Evin as a node for coordinating intelligence, surveillance, and political control. According to Israeli intelligence sources, the prison was being used as an operational command center in conjunction with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Revolutionary Guard cyber units.
In response, Tehran has vowed revenge, condemning the strike as a "flagrant violation of national sovereignty" and a breach of international law. Iranian military leadership placed missile units and proxy forces in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon on maximum alert, warning of imminent retaliatory strikes that could extend beyond Israeli territory.
The international response was swift. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the bombing a "serious escalation," a sentiment echoed by several European and Middle Eastern leaders. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on June 24, though no binding resolution was passed, as divisions between Western and non-aligned member states continue to stall consensus on Israel–Iran policy.
Despite the dramatic nature of the attack, global oil markets showed limited response, with Brent crude rising only marginally. Analysts suggest this reflects investor skepticism that Iran will disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the intensifying conflict. However, security has been increased at Gulf ports, and major logistics firms have rerouted shipments to avoid maritime risks. The U.S. dollar gained against major currencies, and gold prices rose modestly as traders hedged against further instability.
The European Union has called for emergency diplomatic talks in Vienna, citing fears that the conflict may shift from military deterrence to strategic regime-targeting, a move that could fundamentally destabilize the region. Simultaneously, NATO has announced plans to review regional contingency strategies at its upcoming summit, emphasizing the potential for proxy escalation near Lebanon, Syria, and the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Security experts are now widely interpreting the Evin Prison strike as a symbolic and tactical turning point. Rather than solely degrading Iran’s military capabilities, Israel appears to be pursuing a strategy aimed at undermining the regime’s ideological and institutional power base. The airstrike on a site as politically charged as Evin is seen as psychological warfare, designed to fracture elite unity within Iran and challenge the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“This is no longer a war of missiles alone—it’s a war against the machinery of the state,” noted regional analyst Dalia Sharif, speaking to France24. “By hitting Evin Prison, Israel is signaling that no element of Iran’s control structure is off-limits.”
Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah and Iraqi Shia militias, have issued statements vowing expanded retaliation beyond Israeli borders, further raising fears of a multi-front war. With Syrian and Lebanese airspace already under surveillance by Israeli drones and Western forces, any retaliatory escalation could pull regional actors into direct confrontation.
The bombing also carries enormous strategic ambiguity: is Israel accelerating efforts to end the war by dismantling the regime’s core, or is it provoking a new phase of systemic conflict with unpredictable outcomes?
For now, diplomatic avenues remain gridlocked, global investors are watching nervously, and defense posture across the Middle East has tightened significantly. The coming days may determine whether this marks a tipping point toward broader war or managed containment, but few doubt that the strike on Evin Prison has redrawn the red lines of Middle Eastern warfare.
News source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hits-irans-evin-prison-says-strikes-tehran-are-biggest-yet-2025-06-23/ reuters.com
