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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Jews of Isfahan decry Israeli strikes, back Iran's response</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">June 16, 2025</div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>As
Israeli aggression against Iran escalates, the Jewish community of
Isfahan publicly condemned the strikes, expressed solidarity with
Iranian victims, supported the state's right to respond, and reaffirmed
its rooted national identity as part of Iran\u2019s officially recognized and
protected Jewish minority.</p><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/6/16/ea893ef6-f741-4899-9bec-964792c279ff.jpg?width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/6/16/ea893ef6-f741-4899-9bec-964792c279ff.jpg?width=1000&preset=w700" alt="AP" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
In this Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 photo, an Iranian Jewish man
holds a Torah scroll at the Molla Agha Baba Synagogue, in the city of
Yazd 420 miles (676 kilometers) south of capital Tehran, Iran (AP
Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
</li></div></ul>
<p>The Jewish community of Isfahan on Monday spoke out against recent
Israeli military aggression targeting Iran, expressing sorrow over
civilian casualties and voicing support for the Iranian government's
anticipated response, according to a report by <em>IRNA</em>.</p>
<p>"The Zionists' brutality, which is <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/katz-outright-threatens-tehran-civilians--says-they-ll--pay">far from any human morality</a>
and has caused the martyrdom of a number of our beloved compatriots,
including innocent children, has hurt all of our hearts," the statement
read.</p>
<p>The community further expressed confidence in the Iranian state's
ability to respond forcefully: "We are confident that the Islamic
Republic of Iran, proud and honorable, will give a crushing and
regretful response to the Zionist regime and will make it regret its
shameful actions."</p>
<h2>Protected Minority</h2>
<p>The Islamic Republic has long maintained a formal recognition of the
Jewish community as a protected religious minority, with guaranteed
parliamentary representation in the Iranian Majles.</p>
<p>Iran is also home to the largest Jewish population in the Middle East
outside of "Israel." The government funds Jewish schools, synagogues,
and community centers, and has consistently condemned anti-Semitism
while distinguishing it from anti-Zionism.</p>
<p>Prominent Jewish leaders in Iran have often reaffirmed that their
loyalty lies with their country, not with "Israel," and many Jewish
Iranians openly criticize Israeli policies without fear of persecution.</p>
<p><em>IRNA </em>reports that approximately 3,000 Jews currently reside
in Iran, with Isfahan home to around 1,200 and 16 active synagogues.
External estimates suggest the total Jewish population may be closer to
8,500, mainly concentrated in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Prior to the
1979 Islamic Revolution, the country was home to a Jewish population
nearing 100,000.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--bombs-iranian-hospital--escalating-civilian-targeti">'Israel' bombs Iranian hospital, escalating civilian targeting</a></strong></p>
<p>On June 13, "Israel" launched a large-scale and unprovoked aerial
assault on Iran, striking over 250 locations across the country,
including nuclear sites, IRGC bases, energy infrastructure, and densely
populated areas in Tehran and Isfahan.</p>
<p>The attack killed several hundred people, among them senior military
officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians, including women and
children. In response, Iran initiated <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iranian-missiles-impact-israeli-sites-in-tel-aviv-in-2nd-wav">Operation True Promise III</a>,
unleashing successive waves of ballistic missiles and drones that
struck targets in major Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, and
occupied al-Quds, causing dozens of deaths and widespread damage.</p>
<p>While Israeli officials claimed success in degrading Iran's military
capabilities, Iran's counterstrikes inflicted unprecedented losses,
revealing vulnerabilities in "Israel's" defense systems.</p>
<p>The confrontation has escalated into the most intense direct conflict
between the two parties to date, prompting global concern over regional
destabilization and calls for urgent de-escalation.</p></div></div></div>
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