Relatives of some detainees, now living outside Iran, have called on Jews worldwide to pray for the safety of their loved ones, describing a community living in fear. Though Iran often seeks to portray its Jewish population as loyal to the regime, sources say Jewish life in the Islamic Republic is marked by constant surveillance and pressure.
“Anyone can suddenly disappear from the street or workplace—just because of a surname or a previous visit abroad,” said one individual with knowledge of the community.
Sameh also reiterated his alignment with the Iranian government, dismissing Zionism as unrelated to Judaism. He compared the connection between Jews and Zionism to the association of ISIS with Islam.
“Any country that attacks Iran’s territorial integrity would be condemned by all sectors of society, including the Jewish community,” Sameh said. “We are Iranians before we are Jews, and our Iranian identity is more important to us than our Jewish one.”
