HRANA – Following developments arising from wartime conditions in Iran, prisoners in a number of the country’s prisons have faced disruptions in the provision of some of their basic needs. Reports indicate shortages of suitable drinking water, reductions in the quantity and quality of food, limitations on the operation of prison stores, shortages of medication, and a decline in medical services. The present report reviews details of conditions in prisons including Greater Tehran, Evin, Vakilabad in Mashhad, Urmia, Khorin, Ghezel Hesar, Khorramabad, and Kermanshah.
Based on information received by HRANA, in recent weeks prisoners in several prisons across the country have encountered similar problems in obtaining essential items. Among these problems are shortages of drinking water, a decline in the quality and quantity of food, restrictions on the operation of prison stores, and shortages of medication. In many of these prisons, water is supplied from wells and, according to former and current prisoners, it is not suitable for drinking. As a result, prisoners are forced to purchase bottled water from prison stores.
However, under the recent conditions, the supply of bottled water to some prisons has decreased, and the price of each bottle has reached around 25,000 tomans, an amount that, according to reports, many prisoners cannot afford.
In addition, reports indicate that prisoners in most of these prisons receive two meals per day, but the quantity and quality of the food have significantly declined compared to the period before the wartime conditions in Iran. At the same time, many prison stores are facing shortages of goods; in some cases, the stores have been closed for several days or have operated with nearly empty shelves. The high level of overcrowding in prisons has further increased pressure on prisoners and raised concerns regarding their hygienic and living conditions. There have also been reports of restrictions on prisoners’ phone calls and family visits.
A former staff member of Khorramabad Prison told HRANA regarding the prison’s population: “Approximately 4,750 prisoners are held in Khorramabad Prison, with the majority of convictions related to assault, theft, financial crimes, and murder. The prison has nine wards, one of which is allocated to service operations. The wards are assessed as having moderate access to natural light. On average, around 500 prisoners are held in each ward, while the bed capacity per ward is about 360. As a result, some prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor or stay in the prayer hall spaces of the wards.”
He added: “Even under normal conditions, the prison infirmary did not have sufficient medication, and a doctor was present in the prison only one day per week. Additionally, no counseling or psychological services were provided in the prison. With the start of the war, these conditions have worsened and resources have become even more limited.”
Another informed source told HRANA about the quality of food in the prison: “Currently, prisoners receive two meals per day, but the amount of food has been reduced to nearly half compared to before the wartime conditions in Iran began, and its quality has also dropped to roughly half.”
According to information obtained by HRANA, Greater Tehran Prison, despite being considered one of the largest prisons in the country, has faced a shortage of space following the transfer of a large number of prisoners from Evin Prison, including detainees from the nationwide protests of December. As a result, sleeping on the floor in rooms, corridors, and even prayer halls has become a common situation.
A lawyer representing one of the prisoners held in Greater Tehran Prison told HRANA that the conditions of prisoners in this facility are no different from those in other prisons. This attorney, who requested anonymity for security reasons, added that many detainees from the December protests are being held in this prison, and that the principle of separation of prisoners based on their alleged offenses is not being observed. According to him, the quality of food has declined compared to the period before the attacks on Iran, and the portion size of each meal has been reduced to about half. He also described the hygienic conditions of the prison as poor due to overcrowding, adding that these circumstances have raised serious concerns among the families of many detainees and prisoners about the physical well-being of their loved ones. The prison store has been closed, and prisoners are also facing a shortage of drinking water.
A prisoner who was recently released from Kermanshah Prison told an HRANA reporter: “Around 4,000 prisoners are held in this prison, but the accommodation conditions are not the same for everyone.”
He added:“Prisoners receive two meals per day, but the amount of food has decreased compared to the past, and its quality is about 40 percent of what it used to be. In some meals, for a stew prepared for around 20 people, only five small pieces of meat, each weighing about 10 grams, are included.”
At the same time, a relative of a prisoner held in Khorin Prison told HRANA that even before the war the prison had faced problems such as overcrowding and poor food quality, but that these issues have intensified since the outbreak of the war. As in other prisons, food portions have been reduced by half due to wartime conditions. Many prisoners are forced to purchase their food from the prison store, where prices are around 40 percent higher than outside, placing additional financial pressure on families. The prison’s drinking water, which is supplied from a well, is also of poor quality and has reportedly caused health problems such as kidney stones among prisoners. Under the current wartime conditions, the prison store is often closed or its shelves are largely empty. The prison infirmary’s doctor is present only during the early morning hours, and prisoners in need of urgent medical care are often left without treatment. In addition, the infirmary is facing shortages of medication.
In Urmia Prison, prisoners are facing similar conditions. The mother of one of the prisoners held there told HRANA: “Given the widespread attacks in Iran, I am worried about my child’s life. Earlier, in a letter, he had requested the prison authorities to grant him temporary leave during this period, but he has not yet received a response. In Urmia Prison, the quality of food has significantly declined compared to before the war, and meal portions have also been cut in half. Due to the current conditions, the prison store sells many goods to prisoners at prices higher than usual. Our family does not have the financial means to support my child so that he can buy water, food, and hygiene items from the store.”
This elderly mother added: “Visits in this prison have become very limited and are no longer like before. In a phone call my son had with me a few days ago, he said that the prison population is very high. Many people are being held in the quarantine ward. These are the same individuals who were arrested in December. The toilets and bathing facilities are not sufficient for all of us. I am worried about the health of my child and the other prisoners held in this prison.”
The child of a prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad also told HRANA about conditions in the prison and the physical state of ill prisoners, including his father: “Even before the war, the quality of food in this prison was poor, but now under the current conditions both the quantity and quality of food have dropped significantly. My father has heart disease and is currently in the prison infirmary, but due to the absence of a doctor and a shortage of medication, the care he receives has been very limited. In addition, many of the recent detainees are being held in this prison. The overcrowding is severe, and many people sleep in the prison corridors. As far as I know, many individuals are still being held in the prison’s quarantine section.”
He added: “The water in this prison is not drinkable. During this period, the prison store has also run out of goods, and water is being sold there at extremely high prices. Many prisoners cannot afford to buy it. In addition, we have been denied the ability to visit my father. All the families of prisoners are worried about their loved ones under these conditions.”
Prisoners in Evin Prison are also facing shortages of food and water. A prisoner who was recently granted temporary leave from the prison told HRANA: “Water has been cut off in some sections of the prison, the prison stores are closed, and telephone calls have been reduced to a minimum or blocked entirely.”
According to him, prisoners’ food rations have been reduced to one meal per day, and in some cases they are given only “dry bread and something resembling soup.” There are also reports that in some wards prisoners have faced severe shortages of water and food for several days at a time. The prison infirmary is also experiencing shortages of medication.
According to information obtained by HRANA, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj is also facing significant overcrowding in terms of capacity and detention conditions.
An informed source told HRANA: “Overcrowding in this prison is severe, and as a result some prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor. At present, large groups are sleeping on the floors of the prayer halls, and in some of the larger rooms of the prison around five prisoners are also sleeping on the floor.”
The family of one of the prisoners held in this facility told HRANA: “The food given to prisoners is poor in quality, and under the current conditions its quantity has also decreased. Prisoners are forced to purchase the items they need from the prison store. The price of bottled water has increased by about 65 percent, and the price of beef has risen by about 113 percent.”
The spouse of another prisoner held in this prison also told HRANA about the state of medical services: “At present, a doctor is not effectively present, and only a nurse’s aide is available on a limited basis. Medical attention is very minimal, and there are no counseling or psychological support services.”
She added: “Under wartime conditions, prisoners’ concerns about the safety of their families have increased, which has affected their mental well-being. In addition, movement restrictions inside the prison have intensified, and prisoners’ movements are being conducted with greater caution.”
According to information received by HRANA, problems such as food shortages, declining quality of health and medical services, limited access to drinking water, and severe overcrowding are not limited to these prisons. Similar conditions have been reported in many prisons across Iran, particularly following the recent wartime conditions.
It should be noted that military attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran began on February 27, 2026. Since the start of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording related developments across various parts of the country on a daily basis. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the eleventh day of the conflict, which was published last night.
