Reports in Iran on a campaign to establish a synagogue on the Temple Mount

Reports in Iran on an initiative to establish a synagogue on the Temple Mount

According to reports published today, June 17, 2026, by SNN (Student News Network) and IRNA (the official news agency of Iran), there is an escalation in the discourse surrounding the status quo on the Temple Mount. Both Iranian media outlets, which are identified with Tehran's official line and take a clear hostile stance toward the State of Israel, claim that Israeli actors are promoting a practical plan to establish a synagogue within the mosque complex.

In the joint report, the sources cite Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Safed, as leading a public campaign to establish a synagogue inside the Temple Mount area, claiming it is a first step toward building the Temple. According to SNN, Rabbi Eliyahu claims that the move is expected to be realized in the near future.

In addition, the reports attribute explicit support for the initiative to the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. According to the Iranian sources, the Minister declared that "there will soon be a synagogue there." These publications come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions surrounding the holy sites in Jerusalem, with the Iranian media using these quotes to present the Israeli government's policy as an intention to change the religious status quo at the site.