HRANA – Four Jewish citizens remain in detention in Tehran and Shiraz weeks after being arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence during the heightened security atmosphere following the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. The detainees are being held without formal charges, and no details about their legal status or the cases against them have been made public.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the four individuals have been identified as Navid Reuven, Shahab Yosef, Kamran Hekmati, and Michael (surname unknown). All four remain in detention facilities operated by the Ministry of Intelligence.
Navid Reuven (son of Gila) and Shahab Yosef (son of Zwela) were arrested in Shiraz during the recent conflict. They are currently being held at the Ministry’s “Plaque 100” detention facility. While the specific charges against them have not been disclosed, sources report that one alleged issue in their case is the possession of an Israeli flag found in their residence.
A third detainee, previously identified by HRANA as Yehuda Hekmati, has now been confirmed as Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Iranian-American Jewish citizen. His mother’s name is listed as Rivka. He was arrested upon entering Iran to visit family and is reportedly being held due to a trip he made to Israel seven years ago. He is currently detained in a Ministry of Intelligence facility in Tehran.
The fourth detainee, Michael (surname unknown), is also being held in Tehran and is expected to appear for his final interrogation session tomorrow. No information has been released regarding the charges or legal process in his case.
These arrests are part of a broader pattern of state pressure on the Jewish community in Iran. In the wake of the recent Iran-Israel conflict, at least 35 Jewish citizens in Tehran and Shiraz were reportedly summoned and interrogated by Iranian security forces. Interrogations primarily focused on the individuals’ family ties with relatives in Israel and included warnings against any phone or internet contact with foreign relatives.
In a related account, Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist recently released from the Intelligence Ministry’s detention facility, referred in a public statement to a Jewish individual named Lida. It remains unclear whether she is among the recently detained or if her case is separate. No further information is currently available regarding her status.
Iranian law passed in 2011 criminalizes travel to Israel by Iranian citizens, imposing penalties of two to five years in prison and temporary bans on passport eligibility. This law continues to impact Iranian Jews by restricting contact with family members abroad, particularly in Israel.
Despite official state claims of upholding the rights of religious minorities, including Jews, human rights experts warn that these recent arrests and interrogations may constitute religious and ethnic discrimination, violating Iran’s commitments under international human rights law.