Iranians continue to suffer persecution under the authoritarian Islamic republic, with death tolls climbing and Christians facing severe legal, social, and personal consequences, according to a webinar hosted by Iran Alive Ministries.
“We hear, almost every day, the statistics of how many people have been killed, how many people have been wounded amid the war, and the tyranny of this regime,” Lily Meschi, director of partner relations at Iran Alive Ministries, said.
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The increase in violence is linked to the January 2026 protests, during which thousands of Iranian citizens were killed for speaking out against decades of oppression.
Freedom or death
Hormoz Shariat, founder and president of IAM, shared insights on Iran’s current situation: “[The Iranian people] are hostages, … and so, when the war started, the Iranians were rejoicing. … About 40 to 50,000 people were killed before the war, and suddenly, they [felt] hope.”
Iranians hope the current war will result in the removal of the government and a free country, Shariat explained. Those who speak out against the regime face persecution or death.
“On another level, the people of Iran are saying, ‘we know the cost of our freedom, and we are ready to pay, even with our own life,” he continued.
‘Bullet fee’
When Iranians are killed by the regime, families are required to pay a price called a “bullet fee” to recover the body of their loved one.
Shariat’s 16-year-old brother was executed by the regime. “The government … executed him, and when my mother went to get his body, they said, ‘You have to pay for the bullets, the cost of killing your son.’”
When the wounded seek care in hospitals, the government often seeks them out and executes them in the hospital beds, Shariat said. “The doctors and nurses who [help the wounded] are executed also.”
As of late 2025, Iran has been executing an average of more than nine people per day. Authorities and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continue to use military grade weapons against their own people.
The cost of conversion
Reza Mehrabani, who served inside Iran for more than 20 years, shared what life is like for Christians living in Iran: “The simplest thing that costs us in Iran is to own a Bible. Just to give a Bible as a gift is more of a crime.”
Iranian Christians who give Bibles as gifts can be sentenced to at least 15 years of prison. Many servant leaders also pay a price for baptizing new believers.
“The government is very sensitive to hearing that people are getting baptized. The crime is even higher when people get baptized in Iran and convert to Christianity. In spite of the persecution and knowing the costs, servant leaders [continue to] gather together, baptize new believers, and distribute Bibles,” Mehrabani said.
Christians may even pay a price for worshiping loudly, forcing many churches underground to escape potential persecution in an attempt to worship freely. In the face of oppression, the church in Iran continues to grow, with many Iranian Christians delivering food and medicine to families in need.
Growth through persecution
IAM shared the profound impact of its ministry in Iran during 2025.
The group was able to host multiple leadership conferences, offering training to Iranian pastors and underground church leaders, equipping them to stand firm in their faith. Twenty-four emerging Iranian leaders were equipped to ignite revival among their peers.
Thousands were trained, mentored and mobilized to disciple others, even in the most dangerous corners of the Middle East. In 2025, 12,000 salvations were recorded, bringing the total to over 118,000 lives transformed through IAM.
Additionally, 4,350 students enrolled in online discipleship programs, with 2,272 students actively studying the Bible and multiplying disciples. IAM was able to provide food, shelter and medical aid to families in need.
The Waha app was also launched, offering secure digital communication in Farsi to make discipleship accessible to every Iranian anywhere in the world. IAM continues to share podcasts and an online broadcast called “My Homeland” with millions of Iranian families who rely on the ministry’s 24/7 satellite channel to hear the gospel.
“God is at work,” Shariat said. “Jesus has done his part. He died on the cross. He has opened the hearts of millions of people. Now we need to work with him, partner with him, and build up his church.”
To learn more about Iran Alive Ministries, visit iranalive.org or text CRISIS to 85789.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Faith Pratt and originally published y the Baptist Standard.
