The history of the Jews in Iran started 2,700 years ago. Jewish history in the area states that this group is descended from Jews who came from the Land of Israel and stayed in the area after the Achaemenid rulers of the First Persian Empire permitted Jews to return to Jerusalem following the conclusion of the Babylonian exile. Mizrahi Jews, who speak Mizrahi Hebrew and adhere to the Babylonian Talmud, make up the majority of the Iranian Jewish population.

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Iran currently has the largest Jewish community in the Middle East, second only to Israel, with between 8,000 and 15,000 members. Despite having a representative in Parliament and being acknowledged as a religious minority, Jews keep a low profile and are subject to severe political restrictions, such as being prohibited from visiting Israel. Jews have community organisations and vibrant synagogues where they practise their faith, which is officially recognised by the Iranian Constitution. They are regarded as dhimmis, or second-class citizens, and are prohibited from occupying key posts in the military, government, or court. Since the Iranian government forbids any communication with Israel, it is politically necessary to distinguish between Judaism and Zionism in order to protect the community.