See also: History of the Jews in Iran, Persian Jews, and Exodus of Iran's Jews
The violence and disruption in Arab life associated with the founding of Israel in 1948 drove an increased anti-Jewish sentiment in neighbouring Iran as well. This continued until 1953, in part because of the weakening of the central government and strengthening of clergy in the political struggles between the shah and prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh. From 1948–1953, about one-third of Iranian Jews, most of them poor, emigrated to Israel.[92] David Littman puts the total figure of emigrants to Israel in 1948–1978 at 70,000.[93]
After the deposition of Mossadegh in 1953, the reign of shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the most prosperous era for the Jews of Iran. Prior to the Islamic revolution in 1979, some 80,000 Jews lived in Iran, primarily in the capital Teheran. Since the revolution, the Persian Jewish community has experienced a collapse, plunging to about one fourth of its size within three decades, and continues to shrink to this day. Most of Iranian Jews found their way to the US, with lesser numbers arriving to Europe and Israel. About 15% of the Persian Jewish community in Israel were admitted between 1975 and 1991. They immigrated chiefly because of religious persecution.[94]
