Hussain Hazbavi 
At least 35 Jewish citizens in Tehran and Shiraz have been summoned and interrogated by Iranian authorities over personal contact with relatives in Israel, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The move marks the largest crackdown on Iran’s Jewish community in decades.
Sources close to the families told HRANA that authorities warned them to avoid any phone or online communication with people abroad, especially in Israel. The interrogations have raised serious concerns among rights groups about religious freedom and collective punishment.
The crackdown isn’t limited to the Jewish community. Iranian security forces have also raided at least 19 homes belonging to members of the persecuted Baha’i faith during and after the war with Israel. Community members say they were targeted solely for their beliefs and international connections.
Analysts believe these actions reflect a familiar pattern: when the Iranian regime feels weakened on the global stage, it turns inward—targeting minorities and peaceful communities to project control and instill fear.
Ahwazi activists warn that this strategy of scapegoating is not new. From Ahwazis to Baha’is to Jews, Iran continues to suppress voices that challenge its narrative—no matter how peaceful or personal the connection.
