As tensions rise in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, Iranian Christians living abroad are expressing concern about the future of their homeland and their community.
“At one time, Christians were free and every religion respected in our country — but since the Islamic revolution, everything has been ruined and every sign of civilization demolished,” said Bibi Sakine, an Iranian Catholic residing in England. She also voiced opposition to foreign intervention: “Yet I totally disagree with what the Americans and Israelis are doing, bombing and killing innocent people. It’s up to our country and its people to overthrow their government.”
The comments come as military strikes continue after the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28. The resulting instability has led to retaliatory attacks by Tehran against neighboring countries.
Sakine told OSV News that Iran’s younger generation is increasingly rejecting the country’s long-standing Islamist regime and seeking greater freedoms. However, she noted uncertainty about how many Iranians still support Islam.
A Protestant pastor from the London-based Iranian Christian Fellowship described a surge in secret Christian conversions driven by strict religious rule. “All minorities — Christians, Bahá’ís, Sunni Muslims and others — have been suppressed and forced into silence: whatever the price, we now just want this to end,” said Hossein Amiri, who co-authored a recent report on anti-Christian repression.
Amiri also explained that many Iranian Christians living in Western countries feel compelled to speak cautiously due to fears for their families’ safety back home. “As Christians, we are part of a bigger picture and want our voice to be included with others,” he said. “But people are terrified that, if this regime stays in power, they’ll kill everyone who lives and thinks differently.”
Estimates vary regarding the number of Christians remaining in Iran. Most belong to historic Armenian or Assyrian communities under close government supervision or participate in evangelical house churches made up mostly of converts from Islam who risk police raids and arrests.
According to U.S. State Department figures, there are about 20,000 Catholics in Iran—mainly Armenian and Chaldean rite members—with approximately 2,000 Latin-rite Catholics under Cardinal Dominique Mathieu since 2021.
A February report from human rights organizations Open Doors, Middle East Concern, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and Article 18 found that persecution of Christians had increased significantly over the past year. The report stated that 254 Christians were arrested in 2025—twice as many as the previous year—and many received harsher court sentences while facing exclusion from education, jobs, and healthcare.
Christian practices such as praying or celebrating Christmas have been cited as evidence of criminal activity. Aida Najaflou was charged with “gathering and collusion” along with “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran” for her religious activities.
Iran’s exiled opposition leader Reza Pahlavi urged Pope Francis last December to condemn ongoing persecution against Christian converts seeking communion with the Catholic Church.
Article 18 reported that at least 19 Christians were among those killed during nationwide unrest starting December 28—a period marked by significant violence according to United Nations sources.
Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, an Iranian-born Anglican leader based abroad whose diocese has lacked a bishop since 2016 following church closures in major cities like Tehran and Isfahan, described house churches as “significant” yet forced into secrecy for safety reasons. She said many Iranian Christians feel isolated: “Iranians are totally disillusioned with the version of Islam they’ve received over four decades — many are finding something in Christianity, and it’s our responsibility to foster this.” However she cautioned: “Even if there was a change of regime, extremists and fanatics will still be there in the shadows.”
She added that despite changes at the top level of government after Khamenei’s death it would be naive to assume Iranians could simply reclaim control: “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still the power base… What may happen if the country is left to the mercy of its regime doesn’t bear thinking about. I fear President Donald Trump and Israel have unleashed something over which they now have very little control.”
Human rights groups have called for unconditional release of all those detained because of their beliefs as well as reopening closed churches.
Amiri stressed that it is vital for Iranian Christians outside Iran to advocate for those inside who cannot speak freely: “Although we’re not totally free to say what we want even outside Iran we must stand up for the truth which as Jesus said makes us free… Having failed for the past 47 years people now say they’re ready to die to be rid of this regime.”
Sakine expressed hope that Catholics would contribute positively when generational divides lessen within Iran: she hopes interfaith relations will again reflect “mutual respect for the beliefs of others.”
Jonathan Luxmoore
