Several Jewish Leaders in Iran Released, Others Still Detained

In recent weeks, Iranian Jews have been living under intense pressure. Despite Tehran’s efforts to portray the community as loyal to the regime, Jews in Iran live under constant surveillance, widespread suspicion, and a persistent atmosphere of fear. Sources close to the community describe a state of existential anxiety: “Anyone can suddenly disappear—from the street or their workplace—simply because of a last name or a past visit to another country.” 

Meanwhile, Dr. Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament, continues to voice public support for the Ayatollah regime. In an interview with local media, he said: “Since the beginning of the revolution, the Jewish community’s position has been to condemn the crimes of the Zionist regime, and we have always remained loyal to the regime.” 

Sameh denied that any Jews had been arrested: “Since the start of the revolution, no one from the Iranian Jewish community has been detained for spying on behalf of a foreign state.” He added, “The relationship between Zionism and Judaism is entirely separate,” and continued: “We do not recognize Zionism as a religion and compare it to the relationship between the Taliban, ISIS and Islam.”