Iran is the 17th-largest country in the world and the world’s 17th-most populous country. It has one of the world's oldest civilizations. In 1979 the current Islamic theocracy was established. Ultimate authority is vested in the "Supreme Leader’" a position held by Mojtabe Khamenei since his father was assassinated on February 28, 2026 at the beginning the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel. On June 17, President Trump and Iran's President Pezeshkian signed a memorandum to end the war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. A full treaty between the United States and Iran is currently being negotiated.
Country Stats
Capital City: Tehran
Government: Unitary Theocratic Islamic Republic
Major People Groups: Persians, Kurds, Turkmens, Azerbaijanis, Baloch, Gilaks, Qashqai, Lurs, Romani, Mazanderani, Bakhtiari, (and 80 others)
Population: 92,310,000 (Joshua Project)
Religion: 90-95% Twelver Shi'a Islam, ~5% Suni Islam, 1.8% Christianity, ~1% other
Government: Unitary Theocratic Islamic Republic
Major People Groups: Persians, Kurds, Turkmens, Azerbaijanis, Baloch, Gilaks, Qashqai, Lurs, Romani, Mazanderani, Bakhtiari, (and 80 others)
Population: 92,310,000 (Joshua Project)
Religion: 90-95% Twelver Shi'a Islam, ~5% Suni Islam, 1.8% Christianity, ~1% other
Whenever people from Muslim backgrounds become Christians, they are at great risk of being prosecuted for 'crimes against national security'. Following the 2026 USA and Israel war against Iran, converts are now branded as spies and collaborators. Arrests on religion-related charges roughly doubled from previous years. Iranian house church leaders and members have received long prison sentences. Most are incarcerated in Iran’s infamous Evin Prison, where they are subjected to beatings, electric shocks, mock executions, prolonged solitary confinement, forced confessions, and sexual abuse.
But the gates of hell have not prevailed, and God and is building his Church. Rather than extinguishing the faith, intense government persecution, economic collapse, and recent wartime crises have accelerated the growth of the underground house church network. Iran has one of the fastest growing evangelical churches in the world. Christian research organizations, including Open Doors, Elam Ministries, and Transform Iran, estimate that the number of Muslim-background believers (converts) has exploded from just 500 in 1979 to between 1 million to 3 million people.
But the gates of hell have not prevailed, and God and is building his Church. Rather than extinguishing the faith, intense government persecution, economic collapse, and recent wartime crises have accelerated the growth of the underground house church network. Iran has one of the fastest growing evangelical churches in the world. Christian research organizations, including Open Doors, Elam Ministries, and Transform Iran, estimate that the number of Muslim-background believers (converts) has exploded from just 500 in 1979 to between 1 million to 3 million people.
How to Pray
- Pray that the Lord will preserve the faith of our Iranian brothers and sisters, especially those facing persecution.
- Pray for the murderous Islamic political system to be demolished.
- Pray for the persecution, torture, and killing to end.
- Pray that the Lord will lead many to faith through the faithful witness of courageous believers.
