IM: The Iranian government and nation do not officially recognize Israel and Jews share the same position, according to an Iranian Jewish figure, IRNA reported.? Head of the Committee of Tehrani Jews Haroun Yashai told Russian Gazetta daily, “We are citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He ruled out allegations that religious minorities are deprived of their rights in Iran, saying, “Foreign journalists usually think that our comments on good condition of religious minorities in Iran are false; foreign journalists wrongly believe that we express everything on the call and under pressure of Iranian officials,” IRNA stated

He said Jews are free to react to some of the policies of government and even write to government officials on the issues.

He went on to say that Jews are free to perform their religious duties and say their prayers in the Jewish language.

He added that Jews follow their customs and have been living in Iran since 2,500 years ago, when Cyrus the Great ruled the country.

Currently, maintained the Jewish figure, there are 40 synagogues in Iran, 23 of which are active, and the Jewish population are mostly scattered in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan, IRNA added.

There are 25,000 Jews living in Iran.