In the context of tensions between Iran and Israel, Iranian authorities intensified actions against Christian communities, especially those with origins in Islam and domestic churches. Sources note that the post-conflict period has been used to justify increased surveillance, arrests, property seizures, and pressure on believers, under the claim of protecting national security.
The most notable case involves the seizure of the historic Saint Peter Presbyterian Church in Tehran. Reports indicate church leaders were threatened with arrest if they resisted, and residents living on the compound were compelled to leave. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly issued a new deed in their name, effectively transferring control of the property to the state and creating a physical division between the church building and the land. The action followed disputes over a ten-thousand-square-meter garden and shortly after the demolition of another historic church in the country.
Human rights experts say this move signals a broader campaign against Christian religious life in Iran, hindering gatherings and community worship. Amid this landscape, the Tehran Christian community continues to monitor legal and administrative developments, with residents fearing further expulsions and future interventions on religious properties.
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