The Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament acknowledged Tuesday that several members of the country’s Jewish community were recently detained in connection with the war between Israel and Iran—but firmly denied allegations of espionage.
His comments follow reports that some of the detained individuals—part of a group said to number in the dozens—were released on bail in recent days.
Sameyah, who has been expressing strong support for the Islamic Republic’s leadership, claimed the arrests stemmed from unauthorized private gatherings. “Some people were arrested for holding unlicensed family celebrations, and they are set to be released. These individuals have no connection to espionage,” he said.
The lawmaker also stated that “not a single member of the Jewish community has ever been arrested for espionage since the Islamic Revolution,” and insisted the community has “always demonstrated loyalty to the Islamic Republic’s system and sovereignty.”
However, that statement contradicts historical records. In 1999, 13 Jews from Shiraz were charged with spying for Israel. They were sentenced to prison terms and released only after serving up to four years, following international pressure on Tehran.
Sameyah, who sits on the parliament’s health committee, continued to praise Iran’s Jewish population, calling it “the quietest and most cooperative minority in the country,” and said Jewish religious teachings stress respect for the sovereignty of any nation in which they reside.
He also accused Israel of being responsible for the deaths of several Iranian Jews, calling them “martyrs” of the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran. “This shows their support and loyalty to the country,” he said.
The lawmaker dismissed ongoing rumors that members of the Jewish community are under investigation for espionage, calling such reports “completely false” and blaming “hostile media outlets” for spreading misinformation. “People must be vigilant and not believe such fake news,” he said.
