Over 50 Arrested Christians Accused of Espionage

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) recently reported that over 50 Christians have been arrested since the end of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025. The country's intelligence agency labelled the detained believers as "Mossad mercenaries," claiming that they had been trained by churches abroad and were now operating "under the guise of the Zionist Christian evangelization movement."

In addition to the arrests, Iranian state media has accused the Christians of engaging in espionage and having connections to foreign entities. A video report released by the media in mid-August includes footage of some believers attending a gathering in Türkiye, along with images of Bibles and other literature which the Christians were purportedly smuggling into Iran.

In contrast to the religious traditions practised by those belonging to the country's historic Armenian and Assyrian Christian communities, who are incidentally permitted to worship in their own languages, evangelical followers of Jesus are branded as "Zionists." As the majority of Iran's Christians are not part of these two traditional groups, they consequently cannot gather for worship legally. As a result, many believers rely on the Internet to access spiritual encouragement and teaching. More information concerning the persecution of Christians in Iran can be reviewed at our country report.

• Please prayerfully remember the recently detained Christians, along with the many other followers of Jesus in Iran who are currently being imprisoned for their faith.
• May the ministries represented by the country's underground churches continue to faithfully serve fellow believers – while also reaching out to spiritual seekers with the life-transforming message of God's love for them – despite the Iranian government's intense restrictions.
• Ask the Lord to work mightily in the lives of Iranian officials and others who oppose the "Good News" of the Gospel, praying that "the eyes of their hearts" would be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).