Iran’s Jewish population, now only a fraction of its pre-1979 size, remains the largest in the Middle East outside Israel and, under the Islamic Republic, is often publicly critical of Israel.
Younes Hamami Lalehzar, a leader of Iran’s Jewish community, pledged allegiance to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to footage circulating on social media.
Iranian media reported that the address was made during a Wednesday rally in Tehran’s Enqelab Square.
“We are happy that the members of the Khamenei Council, who are the followers of Imam Shaheed, have reached this important position and responsibility,” Lalehzar said in the video, adding that Iran’s Jewish community “supports their election and leadership.”
“We hope that they will be successful in this important responsibility and that they will be a witness to the victory, success, and prosperity of our beloved country, Iran.”
Iranian Jewish criticism of Israel
Iran’s Jewish population, now only a fraction of its pre-1979 size, remains the largest in the Middle East outside Israel and, under the constraints of the Islamic Republic, is often publicly critical of Israeli policy.
After a synagogue in central Tehran was damaged in a missile strike several weeks ago, Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in the Majles (Iranian parliament), said that “The Zionist regime showed no mercy towards this community during the Jewish holidays and attacked one of our ancient and holy synagogues.”
One social media post circulated by Iranian-linked accounts after the strike claimed local Jews had said they were “not surprised” and that “anything is possible from Israel.”
After Israeli air strikes in June of 2025, Lalehzar wrote that the “murder of civilians, women and children by the criminal Zionist regime and the evil Netanyahu must be met with decisive force.”
The Jewish Association and Community of Isfahan also released a statement at the time saying that “the Zionists’ brutality, which is far from any human morality…has hurt all of our hearts,” at the time, and added that they “were confident that proud and honorable Iran will give a crushing and regret-inducing response.”
Alex Winston, Miri Sela-Eitam contributed to this story.