JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Since the escalation of tensions last year and the wave of anti-government protests in Iran in January 2026, the country’s Jewish community has found itself under increasing pressure from the regime of the ayatollahs.

The community, one of the oldest in the Middle East, now numbers only about 20,000 people. The extent of the situation emerges from the testimonies of approximately 20 Iranian Jews who spoke anonymously to the Jewish Chronicle out of fear for their safety.

Jalil, who owns a small shop in central Tehran, told the Jewish Chronicle that his store has been vandalized twice in recent months. Its windows were smashed, and the words “Zionists, get out” were spray-painted on the walls.

According to Jalil, those responsible were activists affiliated with the regime rather than local residents, noting that their neighbors had always treated Jewish business owners with respect.

In another city, whose name was withheld to protect the owner, a Jewish-owned jewelry store was reportedly raided by members of the Basij militia, who stole gold and jewelry. According to the shopkeeper, the intruders mockingly referred to the stolen items as “spoils of war” and told him he was fortunate they were not taking his wife and daughter as well.

Members of the Jewish community say they believe the regime, unable to strike Israel or the United States directly, has instead turned its anger toward Iran’s Jewish citizens, who are unable to defend themselves.

Pressure is also being applied economically through dismissals from employment and alleged extortion by security agencies. At least five Iranian Jews told the newspaper they had lost their jobs over the past year.

One example is “Yaakov” (a pseudonym), who worked for more than two decades at a financial institution. He said he was summoned for questioning by the internal security unit known as Herasat. During the interrogation, investigators showed him photographs of Israeli citizens who shared his surname and demanded that he publish anti-Israel content on social media.

When he refused, explaining that he did not engage in politics, his employment contract was terminated. He also said he was subsequently blocked from working as a driver for the local ride-hailing service Snapp.

The education system has also reportedly become a source of pressure. Jewish children attending state schools in Iran are routinely taken to pro-regime demonstrations, where they are required to burn Israeli flags and chant anti-Israel slogans.

“Roya” (a pseudonym), a mother, said her 10-year-old son was beaten by a teacher aligned with the regime after he failed to shout the anti-Israel slogans loudly enough and refused to participate in burning Israeli flags.

Community members also describe growing pressure in the digital sphere. Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament, was himself summoned by the authorities. In December 2025, he published an open letter urging Iranian Jews to remove “unusual” likes and comments from their social media accounts and to stop following Israeli Persian-language channels in order to avoid attracting the attention of intelligence agencies.

According to the testimonies, this atmosphere also affected “Pari” (a pseudonym), a university student who was expelled after authorities reviewed her internet browsing history and found that she had followed international news websites and opposition sources. She maintained that Iran’s internet had been shut down during that period, making it impossible for her to remove those subscriptions.

Amid the mounting pressure, and following what community members describe as intense coercion of Jewish leadership, one of Iran’s rabbis was compelled to issue public statements condemning Israel’s military actions and declaring that “Zionism is at war with the Iranian nation,” while expressing support for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Members of the community stress, however, that such statements are made under duress and threats, and that many Iranian Jews oppose the regime just as many other Iranian citizens do.

Their greatest fear is rooted in the memory of Habib Elghanian, the prominent businessman and president of Tehran’s Jewish community, who was executed by firing squad in May 1979 after being accused of ties to Zionism.

For roughly half of those interviewed, Elghanian’s execution remains a collective trauma and a painful reminder of what could happen if conditions continue to deteriorate. They describe living torn between a communal leadership forced to demonstrate loyalty to the regime and a profound sense of vulnerability in the face of ongoing persecution.