In a move that has sparked widespread concern, Iran is reportedly planning to take control of one of its last historic Protestant churches, raising questions about the treatment of religious minorities in the country.
Tehran’s St. Peter Evangelical Church, a key historical site for Protestants, is at risk of being seized by the Iranian authorities. This follows the confiscation of a large garden belonging to the church, now occupied by officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as reported by multiple sources.
“I will tell you the literal words they used,” stated Sasan Tavassoli, a minister based in the U.S. with connections to the Presbyterian Church in Iran, in The Free Press. Tavassoli recounted, “We were concerned about America all these years. America came. They slapped us on the face,” he continued. “We slapped them on the face back. And then America withdrew. So we are no longer afraid of America.”
The Anti-Defamation League’s Task Force on Middle East Minorities issued a statement on Wednesday, criticizing the Iranian government’s actions towards Protestant Christians.
Nadine Maenza, Co-Chair of the Task Force and former chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), urged global action against Iran’s measures. “The entire international community must respond with clarity and resolve,” Maenza remarked about the threats to St. Peter’s Evangelical Church.
Maenza highlighted that the destruction and confiscation of churches are part of a larger trend of oppression against various religious minorities, including Christians, Baha’is, Jews, and Sunni Muslims.
In June, the World Communion of Reformed Churches reported that the Evangelical Church of Iran in Mashhad was demolished under orders from the Iranian regime.
Rev. Johnnie Moore, a member of the ADL’s Task Force, commented on this, stating, “A regime that must bulldoze churches and seize the sanctuaries of peaceful congregations is not displaying its strength but confessing its fear.” Moore also praised the resilience of Protestant Christians who continue to worship despite the threat of imprisonment.
According to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, Iran ranks as the 10th-worst country globally for Christian persecution. Christians there endure raids, imprisonment, and societal hostility.
Earlier this year, the monitoring group Article 18 reported that 19 Christians were killed by Iranian security forces during anti-government protests.
The anti-government protests began in December 2025, continuing into early 2026. During these demonstrations on January 8 and 9, Article 18 noted the killings of Christians.
The U.S. State Department voiced concerns on December 30, 2025, about the violent suppression of Iranian protestors, emphasizing that “demanding basic rights is not a crime.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
