Historical Legacy of Jews and Iran
By Mohammed Khaku for New AgeI Islam
13 November 2025
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Israel and Iran have been locked in a tense cycle of hostility. A big part of the problem is the tendency to mix up anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, which gets in the way of any real path to peace.
In today’s social media-driven world, propaganda plays a big role in shaping how people view events around the globe. The Zionist media portrayal of Iran as anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic serves to promote specific pro-Israel narratives, and this is no exception. Every movement has its own form of propaganda, and Zionism has long been skilled at stoking Iran phobia.
In the USA and Europe, pro-Zionist messaging operates like a well-organized, well-funded campaign, blending emotional appeals with targeted outreach to mainstream media, academics, religious leaders, civil rights groups, politicians, and policymakers. These efforts often aim to shape narratives rather than promote more balanced discussions about the Israeli-Iran conflict.
Iran isn’t an anti-Semitic country; it’s anti-Zionist, which is an important distinction. Still, propaganda from Zionist media has created roadblocks to peace between the two sides. Jews have been part of Persia—now Iran—for over 2,500 years, tracing their roots back to the Babylonian exile. This makes Iran’s Jewish community one of the oldest in the world, and historically they faced less anti-Semitism there than in much of Christian Europe.
Iranian Jews have made significant yet often overlooked contributions to nation-building, both during the Pahlavi era and in post-revolutionary Iran. In the 1979 Revolution, Jewish doctors, nurses, and the Jewish-run Sapir Hospital in Tehran played a vital role that rarely receives the recognition it deserves.
Today, the Iranian Jewish community is mainly concentrated in major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Hamedan, and Tabriz. These cities feature not only synagogues and kosher butcheries but also schools, community centres, and Jewish cemeteries that showcase a rich and enduring heritage. Iran is home to hundreds of synagogues, with over 30 still active in Tehran alone, including historic ones like Yusef Abad and Darvazeh Dolat, some dating back centuries.
The story of Jews in Iran is one of incredible endurance, tracing back over two thousand years to when early Israelites settled there after being exiled by the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. The community thrived during the Sassanid dynasty in the third century, and even after Israel’s creation in 1947, more than 100,000 Jews chose to stay and build their lives in Iran. Just eighteen miles southwest of Isfahan is the town of Pir-i Bakran, also called Linjan, home to one of Iran’s most revered sites: the shrine of Serah bat Asher, granddaughter of the patriarch Jacob.
According to one Jewish tradition, the first Jew to arrive in Persia was Serah bat Asher, granddaughter of the Prophet Jacob, highlighting the community’s long-standing historical and spiritual roots. The Book of Esther recounts the story of one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities and the ways their presence in Iran has shaped its history and culture. This raises the ongoing question of why they chose to remain in Iran instead of moving to places like Israel, the USA, or the UK, even with offers of compensation—a question closely linked to Zionism.
Iran is home to the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside of Israel. Iranian Jews are free to practice their faith and even hold a reserved seat in parliament under Article 13 of the constitution. This goes against the common perception of Iran as hostile toward Jews. Official recognition of Judaism as a minority religion gives the community a rare voice in national matters and affirms their status as “people of the holy book” in the Quran.
Following the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Homayoun Sameyah Najaf Abadi, the Jewish representative in parliament, openly criticized the United States and several European nations for backing Israel. He claimed that the root of the conflict and hostility stems from the Zionist regime, which has repeatedly carried out assassinations and acts of sabotage.
Iran’s opposition focuses on Zionism, the ideology established by Theodor Herzl in Europe, rather than Judaism. Europe has also been the origin of several controversial ideologies, such as colonialism, imperialism, fascism, and Nazism, which have fuelled wars, strengthened the military-industrial complex, and led to genocide across the globe.
Since Islamic revolution, Iran has maintained strong political opposition to Israel. It was among the UN member states that voted against the resolution to create the State of Israel, and tensions grew in 1953 after a regime change linked to Mossad.
In 1953, a regime changes installed Mohammad Reza Shah as monarch with U.S. backing, and he remained in power until the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew him. During his rule, Mossad assisted in creating SAVAK, the notorious secret police infamous for torturing political prisoners, stifling free speech, and carrying out surveillance.
Decades of historical grievances, coupled with 46 years of sanctions and targeted assassinations, continue to shape how Iranians perceive Israel. Interestingly, the pushback against foreign involvement in the Islamic Republic’s affairs is often fueled more by political motives than by religious beliefs.
A Pew survey found that over 40% of Jewish Americans disapprove of Zionism, while religious groups like Neturei Karta, Satmar Hasidim, and others have long opposed it for theological or moral reasons.
The conflict between Israel and Iran won’t be resolved by relying on the same old approaches. Real peace won’t come from military action, sanctions, regime change, or isolation, but from open dialogue and genuine trust-building.
Although the Islamic Republic has upheld a firm anti-Zionist position and backed the idea of a Palestinian state since the Islamic Revolution, this doesn’t mean Iranians inherently dislike Jews. In fact, Jews in Iran are generally not marginalized or discriminated against.
These days, Iranian Jews are free to leave the country but often choose to stay in Iran by their own choice, despite efforts from the Israeli government and wealthy Jewish expatriates to entice them with offers of £5,000 per person or £31,000 per family.
“The identity of Iranian Jews is something that can’t be traded or taken away. They’re among the oldest Iranians, deeply connected to their culture and traditions. They cherish their Iranian identity, and no political pressure or threats can erase it. The truth is, Iran is a place where Jews feel safe and comfortable. We’re proud to be Iranian,” said Moreh Sedgh, the only Jewish member of parliament.
Allegations of anti-Semitic repression by Western media toward Iranian Jews lack evidence and seem unfounded. Iran has a long history as a diverse society, with Jewish communities contributing significantly to its culture and heritage.
Uncaptured: Jews in the Islamic Republic of Iran – Max Blumenthal travels through Iran to meet members of the country’s second-largest Jewish community. Teaming up with acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Maria Mavati, he delves into the lives and rich history of Jews in the Islamic Republic, challenging Zionist portrayals of post-revolutionary Iran. Reflecting on his journey, Blumenthal says, “Some of it may have been true, but much of it felt like propaganda. I wanted to see for myself – to meet Iran’s Jews where they lived, in their congregations and neighbourhoods. What I discovered was a sincere practice of Judaism, rooted in thousands of years of tradition and untouched by the militaristic pull of Zionism.”
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