At least 71 people were killed in an Israeli attack on Tehran's Evin prison earlier this week, Iranian spokesman Asghar Jahangir was quoted as saying by the DPA news agency, BTA reports.
The Israeli air force carried out the strike on Monday, describing it as a "symbolic attack" against the Iranian government.
Iranian human rights activists condemned the action, stressing that it endangered the lives of dozens of political prisoners held in Evin at the time of the attack.
The prison “Evin“ has been known for decades for serious human rights violations, especially against dissidents and political opponents, DPA notes.
According to Iranian media reports, the administrative wing of the prison was completely destroyed. The prisoners were transferred to other detention centers, where conditions are reportedly even worse.
Among the dead was prosecutor Ali Ghanatkar, who played a key role in the conviction of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. She was also in prison at the time of the attack, but there is no information about her condition after the strike.