The Jewish community in Iran is experiencing a complex mix of fear, loyalty, and internal conflict as the war between Iran and Israel, supported by the U.S., enters its seventh week. Approximately 12,000 Jewish Iranians, one of the region’s largest communities outside Israel, shared their concerns during a rare media visit to Tehran’s Sukkat Shalom Synagogue.
Although the community has diminished significantly from over 100,000 prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian Jews continue to live under social and legal restrictions. These include limitations on employment in government and military roles, unequal treatment in the judiciary, and travel bans preventing visits to Israel for religious observances.
Yacub, a 71-year-old shop owner, described his conflicting emotions after the conflict began in February. Despite limitations for Jews in Iran, he expressed strong national pride, emphasizing that Iranian Jews identify primarily with their country rather than Israel. “We are Iranian Jews, and not some Jews who just live in Iran,” Yacub said.
However, other community members voiced concern about the intertwining of anti-Israel sentiment with rising antisemitic rhetoric. Deborah, a 37-year-old healthcare worker in Tehran, criticized the government’s propaganda, which she said increasingly targets Jews under the guise of opposing Zionism. She expressed fears for the safety of religious minorities amid ongoing bombings and shortages of medical staff.
Sarah, a 31-year-old medical technician, condemned both the war and public calls for Israel’s destruction. She stressed her Iranian identity and hope for peaceful resolution despite acknowledging the deep-rooted ideological conflict. “I am begging both governments, just calm down and let us live in peace,” she said.
Why it matters
The sentiments expressed by Jewish Iranians reveal the pressures faced by minority communities caught between nationalist loyalty and religious or cultural identity during international conflict. Their experiences shed light on the social and legal challenges within Iran, as well as the human impact of geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel.
Background
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran was home to over 100,000 Jews, but decades of political change and emigration have reduced the community to roughly 12,000. While the Iranian government officially asserts that Jewish citizens can practice their religion freely, reports document ongoing discrimination and restrictions within Iranian society. The current conflict between Iran and Israel, involving U.S. military actions, has intensified scrutiny and anxiety among Iranian Jews, complicating their sense of belonging and security.
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