While Iran’s nuclear capabilities have drawn international military attention from the United States and Israel, religious freedom advocates point to another troubling aspect of the regime: its severe persecution of Christian believers. According to Open Doors’ yearly ranking of nations where practicing Christianity poses the greatest risks, Iran holds the tenth position worldwide. Religious freedom organizations express hope that any potential regime change could bring relief to persecuted believers in the country. Prior to the Islamic Revolution that swept through Iran during the 1970s, Christian communities represented a minority population but did not face execution for practicing their faith. The decades following that political transformation have brought continuous and often fatal persecution for religious minorities.
