How far back does the Jewish community in Iran trace its heritage?

The Jewish community in Iran traces its heritage back to the Babylonian Exile of the 6th century BCE.1

Following the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, many Jews chose to remain in the region rather than return to Judaea, marking the beginning of an enduring Jewish Diaspora. Under the Achaemenid Empire, these communities became an integral part of Persian society, a history reflected in biblical traditions such as the Book of Esther. Throughout their long history in the region, the Jews have maintained their distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity.21