Iran Detains 35 Jews Including Two US Nationals After Israel Conflict

Following Operation Rising Lion, Iranian authorities detained around 35 Jews across Tehran, Shiraz, and Alborz province on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, including two American Jews visiting family in Iran. One American detainee, an Iranian-born Jew residing in New York for 30 years, remains in custody, while the other, living in Los Angeles, was recently released on bail. The charges of espionage against those detained in Tehran have been dismissed after meetings between the Jewish community representative in Iran’s parliament and Revolutionary Guards judiciary officials, who remain optimistic about resolving the cases of the remaining detainees. The arrests have been described as part of a broader crackdown on minorities, including Kurds, Azeris, and Baháʼís, amid heightened tensions following Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The detentions highlight contradictions in Iran’s claims of equal rights for its Jewish citizens, as community members report unprecedented pressure and surveillance since the conflict. Efforts to secure the release of all detainees continue, with sources indicating many were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time during the conflict.