WANA (Jun 30) – Following the Israeli attack on Evin Prison that, according to Iran’s Judiciary Spokesman, resulted in 79 deaths, Israeli media claimed the operation aimed to free prisoners. However, Iranian experts believe the actual intent was far more sinister.

 

The nature of the strike and the pattern of killings suggest an effort to mislead public opinion by portraying the raid as a humanitarian attempt to rescue inmates. But official reports and released footage indicate otherwise: the victims included not only prison administrative staff but also conscripted soldiers, convicted inmates, families of prisoners who were visiting or pursuing legal matters related to their imprisoned relatives, and neighbors living adjacent to the prison.

Akram Mohammad-Salimi, Zahra Ebadi, Atefeh Ba’ajzadeh, Mahnaz Khosh-Kerdar, and Pourandokht Saadatnejad. Among them, Zahra Ebadi lost her life along with her five-year-old son inside the prison’s administrative building. Social media/ WANA News Agency

It is suggested that Israel’s actual goal in the Evin Prison attack was to eliminate individuals imprisoned under charges or convictions of cooperating with Mossad. However, due to timely intervention by Iran’s Prisons Organization and emergency services, this mission reportedly failed.

 

Further investigations revealed that some inmates were also killed during the Israeli attack on Evin, yet none of them had charges or convictions related to national security, espionage, or collaboration with Mossad or the Israeli regime. In fact, no security prisoner was harmed in the attack.

 

In addition to the military strike on Evin Prison, a critical accompanying strategy was the psychological warfare campaign aimed at public opinion through spreading rumors regarding the prisoners’ situation.

A view shows the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Evin prison last week, after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 29, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

From the rumor of clashes inside Evin Prison to the false claim that the head of Evin Prison fled the scene after the Israelis contacted his son, a series of lies were circulated by Iranian opposition media.

 

Iranian officials noted that all prisoners were quickly relocated to other facilities, with access to family phone calls maintained throughout. Still, a few security detainees have reportedly refused to contact their families, seemingly to fuel rumors about their health and amplify their media presence.

 

Authorities stress that no security prisoners were harmed in the attack and dismiss rumors surrounding their condition as deliberate psychological operations.

A picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is seen in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Evin prison last week, after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 29, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)