An Israeli official denied that Israel targets synagogues after Iranian media reported that a U.S.-Israeli airstrike destroyed a historic Jewish house of worship in central Tehran on Tuesday.
“Israel doesn’t target synagogues,” an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.
Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry, in an internal report, noted conflicting reports about the extent of damage to the Rafi-Nia Synagogue. The Associated Press confirmed visible damage to the site based on video footage that aligned with Iranian accounts, the ministry said.
Why It Matters
Iran is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the Middle East outside Israel, with estimates suggesting 8,000 to 10,000 Jews live there, primarily in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan.
The reported strike comes as President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches.
What To Know
The strike hit the Rafi Niya Synagogue during Passover, one of Judaism’s most important holidays. Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament, noted the timing in his statement, saying Israel “showed no mercy towards this community during the Jewish holidays.”
According to Iran’s semiofficial Mehr News Agency, the adjacent residential building was the intended target. The narrow surrounding streets meant the blast damaged nearby buildings inside and out, Mehr reported. Footage published by Iran’s official IRIB News outlet showed Hebrew-language prayer books scattered in the rubble.
The Shargh newspaper called the Rafi-Nia Synagogue “one of the most important places for Khorasan Jews to gather and celebrate.”
When asked about the strike, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office told The Times of Israel: “Iran is firing missiles at civilians, Israel is striking terror infrastructure. Missiles on civilians versus precision strikes on terror targets. That’s the difference.”
When is Trump’s Deadline for Iran?
President Donald Trump has set a deadline of 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if the blockade is not lifted by that time.
In a post on Truth Social Tuesday, Trump said he did not want the bombardment to happen but added “it probably will,” describing the looming deadline as “one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world.”
Iran has rejected ceasefire proposals and accused the U.S. and Israel of targeting civilian and symbolic sites. The Iranian government has warned of “devastating” retaliation if civilian infrastructure is struck.
What People Are Saying:
Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly, said in a statement carried by state media Tuesday: “The Zionist regime did not spare the community during Jewish holidays and attacked one of our ancient and holy synagogues. Unfortunately, during this attack, the synagogue building was completely destroyed and our Torah scrolls were left under the rubble.”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
What Happens Next
With Trump’s deadline hours away and Iran showing no signs of capitulating, the conflict appears poised to intensify further.