The Islamic regime arrested three Christian leaders who allegedly opened their own church to preach Zionist teachings privately, according to the Yazd Justice Department's Public Relations Department and statements made by Yazd prosecutor Mehdi Hassanpour.
“After establishing organizational ties with two Christian missionary leaders associated with the Zionist regime, the defendants established a group in the form of a house church and converted a significant number of their family members and friends to Zionist Christianity, both in person and online,” Hassanpour claimed.
The church leader reportedly recruited new members to pray for the victory of Israel, burn and desecrate the Koran, and insult Islamic leadership.
Hassanpour alleged that the church’s leader had first claimed to be chosen by God, then later claimed to be a reincarnation of Jesus Christ. He was said to have used this religious authority to abuse his followers.
Fars News Agency reported that the religious leaders were “key members of a Christian proselytizing network.”
Regime authorities frequently smeared Christians as “Mossad mercenaries”
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency noted that the arrests come as part of a wider crackdown on Christian conversion in the Islamic Republic.
Amnesty International also noted in its 2025 review of the country that regime authorities frequently smeared Christians as “Mossad mercenaries,” raided house churches, and arbitrarily detained Christian converts.