Iran Steps Up Christian Persecution Amid Ceasefire with Israel

TEHRAN, Iran At least 21 Christians have been arrested across several cities in Iran amid a surge in religious persecution following the June 13 ceasefire with Israel, a leading watchdog reports.

The arrests, confirmed by religious freedom group Article 18, occurred in Tehran, Rasht, Orumiyeh, Kermanshah, and Varamin. The group is still verifying additional reports of arrests as recent as July 10.

Iran’s crackdown appears targeted, especially against Muslim converts to Christianity. Nathan Rostampour, a Persian ministry leader at Summit Church in North Carolina, said believers are increasingly labeled as pro-Western and face harsh treatment.

“These Christians are seen as threats to national security,” Rostampour told Baptist Press. “They are arrested, their homes raided, and their children forced into Islamic education. The pressure is mounting.”

Rostampour said house churches continue to meet in secret despite the risks. Many of their leaders have been jailed. Still, their faith remains unshaken.

“I meet with pastors online to offer support and guidance,” he said. “Their courage under fire inspires me. The church in Iran may be hidden, but it is alive and growing.”

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Crackdown Intensifies During Conflict

While international focus has been on the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, repression within Iran has increased. According to a United Nations statement, at least six people including three Kurdish men were executed on espionage charges within three weeks of the ceasefire. Though no Christians were named, the UN warned of sweeping arrests of minorities, including Baha’is, Kurds, Balouchis, and Ahwazi Arabs.

State-linked media has used hate-filled language to justify persecution. Entire communities are branded as traitors. Reports also revealed that over 250,000 Afghan refugees were deported in June alone.

Rostampour says the Iranian regime uses foreign conflict as a pretext to crack down on Christians. “They claim house churches are backed by the West. These accusations lead to more surveillance and arrests,” he said.

Iran Rejects International Human Rights Calls

Iran recently dismissed 186 of 346 human rights recommendations presented by U.N. member states at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Notably, all 26 recommendations related to religious freedom were rejected. These included calls to protect Christians and other minority faiths.

Open Doors, a global persecution watchdog, ranks Iran ninth on its 2025 World Watch List of the most dangerous places for Christians. The organization estimates that 800,000 Christians live in Iran, a country of over 88 million people, mostly Shi’a Muslims.

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Faith Underground but Unshaken

Despite intensified persecution, many believers continue worshiping in secret. House churches, which operate independently from Iran’s legally recognized Armenian and Assyrian churches, remain under constant threat.

“These gatherings are accused of being foreign operations,” Rostampour explained. “That’s how the regime justifies raiding them.”

But for Iran’s underground church, the hope of the Gospel burns bright.

“Persecution hasn’t silenced them,” said Rostampour. “If anything, it’s made their faith stronger. The Gospel cannot be chained.”

Article 18, the London-based NGO monitoring the arrests, works alongside groups like Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors. It takes its name from the article in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of religion. The group continues to call for international advocacy and prayer support.

 

 

Content Credit: Dada Blessing

Image Credit: al Jazeera.com