Before the rise of Islam in Iran, the nation had 3,000 Farsi-speaking (Persian) churches. During the reign of the Shah, Iranians enjoyed a degree of religious freedom. One of the key Christian denominations thriving at the time was the Philadelphia Church (Assembly of God), which had humble beginnings. Its pastors were men of faith who, despite starting with very little, cultivated a vibrant Christian community. But today, after Mahmood Ahmadinejad’s presidency, there isn’t a single Farsi-speaking church allowed to operate publicly. The oppressive shift under the Islamic regime has stifled religious expression, particularly Christianity, and led to a brutal crackdown on believers.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Mullah regime began targeting Christians as a threat to national security. Spies were infiltrated into churches, just as Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing. Members of the regime’s national security forces, often dressed in their black uniforms, would raid large gatherings and even small house churches, treating peaceful worshipers as though they were dangerous criminals. The regime also launched propaganda campaigns on national TV, labeling new converts to Christianity as “Tabshiri” (Evangelical), and accused them of being agents of foreign intelligence services. This atmosphere of fear and persecution shattered the lives of many believers.

As a Christian, like any believer, I initially thought I should pray for and respect the Iranian leaders as the Bible instructs. But my perspective changed when the regime began executing some of Iran’s most devoted Christian leaders and even normal civilians of Iran. According to a Reuters report from two years ago, the Iranian regime brutally killed 1,500 peaceful protesters on the streets of Iran. During that time, Western media offered little support for the Iranian people, instead promoting the narrative that Iranians were loyal to their government in order to push for a nuclear deal with Iranian officials. This lack of global support has helped keep the regime in power. However, there is a leader who understands the truth—Benjamin Netanyahu. He recognizes that both Israel and the people of Iran share a common enemy: the oppressive regime, which has shown no intention of reforming.

Men like Bishop Haik Hovsepian, Pastor Tateos Michaelian, Pastor Mehdi Dibaj, and Hossein Soodmand—who had a blind wife and four children—were murdered in cold blood for their faith. Within months, the leadership of the Iranian Church was decimated. These tragic events made it clear that the Islamic Republic was a regime driven by cruelty and bloodlust, one that showed no mercy to its own people.

Many Iranian Christians stopped praying for the regime’s leaders, who had proven themselves far removed from the values of justice and mercy. Instead, they began praying for the freedom of their people—freedom from sin, and freedom from the oppressive grip of the Mullahs. Despite their claims of religious piety, Iran’s leaders are deeply tied to communist powers like Russia and China. They stand not only against America and Israel but against their own people. They divert vast sums of money to groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, all while the people of Iran struggle to survive. Many Iranians now hold more compassion for the leaders of Israel than for their own government, following the principle of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” This newfound solidarity has fostered respect for Israel and admiration for the American people and their leadership.

Yet, in the face of such persecution, the underground church in Iran is growing faster than ever before. History shows that the more Christians are oppressed, the more the church thrives. Miracles are happening across the country—stories of baptisms, of Mullahs and Quran teachers turning to Christ, and of entire families coming to faith despite the risks.

I share this to give you a glimpse into what is happening in Iran, both from a Christian perspective and as an Iranian myself. I urge you to pray for the nation of Iran, and I encourage you to meditate on the Scriptures below, which speak of these times.

Relatively a new report about Iranian christians by CBN.