WANA (Apr 08) – Iranian officials have reacted with fierce condemnation following the destruction of the historic Rafieinia Synagogue in central Tehran, which was struck during attacks carried out by the U.S. and Israel on April 7, 2026.

 

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, both took to social media to denounce the targeting of the Jewish house of worship, sharing images of desecrated Torah scrolls amidst the rubble.

 

Qalibaf: Zionism Seeks to Eradicate Authentic Religiosity

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf described the synagogue as a vital center for the Iranian Jewish community for decades. He laid the blame squarely on what he termed “Israeli criminals.”

 

“Zionism—a supremacist ideology—seeks to eradicate authentic religiosity that opposes its genocidal agenda,” Qalibaf stated. His remarks framed the attack as an assault not just on infrastructure, but on the religious fabric of the country.

Baghaei: Desecration During Jewish Holidays

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei characterized the incident as a “despicable war crime,” noting that the attack occurred during Jewish holidays. He cited this information from Homayoun Sameyah, the representative of Iran’s Jewish community in the Parliament.

 

“Attacking this beautiful Synagogue—like the attacks on mosques, churches, schools, hospitals, residential areas, and industrial infrastructure—is abhorred by all Iranians,” Baghaei wrote. He added that the act has only served to increase the “resolve and unity” of Iranians in defending their homeland.

Evidence of Destruction

The officials released several photographs from the scene showing the extensive damage:

Torah Scrolls: Images showing rescue workers and community members holding charred and torn fragments of Hebrew scriptures recovered from the debris.

 

Structural Ruin: Heavy machinery and excavators are working to clear the remains of the building, with damaged civilian vehicles visible in the foreground.

 

Community Presence: Photos capturing Jewish community members in traditional attire looking on at the smoking ruins of the sanctuary.

 

The destruction of the Rafieinia Synagogue has sparked widespread outrage in Tehran, with officials emphasizing that the targeting of a minority religious site proves the indiscriminate nature of the “US-Israel” aggression against the Iranian people.