Iran Targets Independent Churches as Revolutionary Guards Raid Worship Services

Iranian authorities have stepped up raids on unregistered Christian congregations across the country, with Revolutionary Guard units shutting down house churches and detaining worshippers in at least three provinces this month.

Advocacy groups tracking religious freedom say the crackdown is the most aggressive since 2019. Christian World News reported on July 10, 2026, that guards have targeted small gatherings in private homes, confiscating Bibles and electronic devices.

The raids follow a directive from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence ordering security forces to identify and disrupt unauthorized religious meetings. Converts from Islam face the harshest penalties under Iranian law, with charges that can carry prison sentences of up to five years.

Open Doors USA, which monitors Christian persecution globally, ranks Iran among the top ten most dangerous countries for Christians. The organization says the current wave of arrests is part of a broader effort to prevent the spread of Christianity among young Iranians.

Several detainees have been released after signing pledges to stop attending unauthorized gatherings. Others remain in custody awaiting formal charges.

International advocacy groups, including the Everett Center for Global Religious Freedom, have called on the U.S. State Department to raise the issue in ongoing diplomatic channels with Tehran. A State Department spokesperson said the agency is "deeply concerned" by the reports and is monitoring the situation closely.

Church leaders outside Iran say they are in contact with affected congregations through encrypted communication channels and are working to provide legal support for those detained.