A synagogue in central Tehran was destroyed in an alleged early morning airstrike, Iranian media reported on April 7, with authorities blaming Israel for the strike.

Videos circulated by Iranian state media show male and female senior Jewish community figures condemning the attack and pledging loyalty to Iran, including the member of parliament who represents Jews.  

The  1940s Rafi Nia synagogue, located near Palestine Street (close to the old Israeli Embassy), was levelled after what Iranian media described as an Israeli strike on a nearby structure in the early hours of the morning. Footage broadcast by Iranian outlets showed the building reduced to rubble, with religious books being recovered from the debris.

Iran's Jewish community issued a statement condemning "the brutal attacks carried out by the American-Israeli enemy against our beloved homeland and the Rafi Nia synagogue."

(See Image: The attack occurred only one block from the site of the former Israeli consulate building on the renamed Palestine Street, historically a Jewish area of the Iranian capital.) 

Younes Hamami Lalehzar, a senior figure in Iran's Jewish community, was filmed at the site walking through the wreckage. Iranian media quoted Jewish community figures as saying of Israel: "From the enemy, no other gift could be expected for the holiday."

Following the visit from the Rabbis, Iran's sole Jewish MP visited the downtown location, recording a video of support for the Islamic Republic. 

Israel denied all responsibility, with an Israeli official telling the Times of Israel that "Israel doesn't target synagogues. Anyone claiming otherwise thinks you're gullible."

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, and there was no formal comment from the Israeli government on the incident.

The Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem 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."

The attack on the Jewish site comes days after the US and Israel also struck the occupied American Embassy on Taleqani Street, which has been used as a museum for more than two decades against the US. 

According to witness accounts cited by the reports, the eastern side of the compound at the intersection of Taleghani and South Mofatteh streets was damaged, including the Art Deco buildings across the road on what was previously Roosevelt Street, now Moffateh.

Iran is home to the largest Jewish population in the Middle East outside Israel, estimated at between 9,000 and 25,000 people. Tehran has several active synagogues and the community holds a reserved seat in the Iranian parliament.

The destruction of the synagogue came on the same night that US and Israeli forces carried out a wave of strikes across Iran, including on Kharg Island, railway bridges and airports, ahead of President Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.