Iranian Jewish leader Siamal Morsadegh, slated to become a member of the Iranian parliament, said he is calling on the Jewish community not to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary as a modern state because of the killing of "innocent" Arabs. The approximately 25,000 Jews in Iran largely enjoy religious freedom and economic prosperity and often distance themselves from pro-Israel stands.

"We are in complete disagreement with the behavior of Israel," Morsadegh told Reuters News Agency. "We are Iranians. We have no relations with Israel."