Iran Cracks Down on Jewish and Baha’i Minorities Amid Israel Tensions
Tehran — In a sweeping state crackdown, Iranian authorities have summoned and interrogated at least 35 Jewish citizens in Tehran and Shiraz over alleged contact with relatives in Israel, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The interrogations, centered on personal ties and digital communications, represent the most expansive state action against Iran’s Jewish minority in decades.
A source close to the affected families revealed to HRANA that authorities “emphasized avoiding any phone or online communication with abroad,” signaling heightened scrutiny in the wake of the recent Israel-Iran conflict.
But Iran’s Jewish community is not the only minority under pressure. Human rights monitors report that Iranian security forces also raided at least 19 homes belonging to members of the Baha’i faith—known to face persistent state persecution—during and after the war with Israel.
Minorities Targeted as Political Tools
Legal and human rights experts argue that these state actions are not based on legitimate security threats, but rather serve as political tools amid external tensions.
Pegah Bani-Hashmi, a senior legal researcher, told Iran International that accusations of espionage against Jewish and Baha’i citizens are “factually baseless and violate Iran’s own constitution.”
“These communities tend to avoid political activism altogether,” Bani-Hashmi said. “There is no credible legal or security basis for these detentions.”
Shahin Milani, director of the Human Rights Documentation Center, emphasized that these arrests reflect the regime’s inability to identify actual threats. “These groups are already under heavy surveillance. Accusing them of spying is a convenient excuse to intimidate and deflect criticism,” he said.
A 2011 Iranian law criminalizes travel to Israel. While many Iranian Jews maintain family and religious ties with Israeli citizens, analysts note that the law is increasingly being wielded as a tool of collective punishment.
Climate of Fear Within Jewish Community
A senior member of Tehran’s Jewish community told HRANA the current wave of interrogations is “unprecedented,” adding that the scope and intensity have caused deep anxiety within the community.
Although no formal charges have been filed, officials claimed the questioning was aimed at “preventing future crimes.” However, rights lawyers warn that the vague justification could constitute religious and ethnic discrimination—a violation of Iran’s obligations under international law.
Independent journalist Rani Omrani said Tehran’s targeting of Jews and Baha’is is a reflection of its inability to retaliate against Israel directly.
“Because the regime can’t strike Israel effectively, it punishes its own Jewish citizens instead,” Omrani said.
