about 90% of iranian people are muslim. the state religion is shia islam. it has been the state religion since the safavid dynasty in the 16th century. this is the religion of about 75% of iranians. they belong to the twelver branch. about 9% of iranians muslim belong to the sunni branch of islam. the 9% of iranians who are not muslim are bahá'ís, mandeans, zoroastrians, christians and jews. it is thought that there are between 300,000 and 350,000 persian (iranian) jews.