Iran finds its origins in the ancient Persian empire. The country evolved from a liberal political to an Islamic Republic due to the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s. Modern-day Iran is oil-rich and exports nuts and famed Persian carpets. However, their youth do not find employment due to the country’s lack of industrial and technological infrastructure. The Iranian political establishment prioritizes regional supremacy against Saudi Arabia and Israel above all. Their revenue from oil exports does not reach their people. They are instead siphoned off to fund proxy wars in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza through the aiding of terrorist groups. Iranian mercenaries, hired mainly from the Maldives, earn 200 times more than an Iranian family on welfare. The withdrawal of the US from the nuclear deal in 2018 snowballed into a catastrophic economic situation in Iran. This action created an opportunity for China to fill the void. With the majority of imports from China, they are a critical partner for Iran at present. Iran also receives large volumes of imports from the United Arab Emirates. These imports help feed the country and make the economy somewhat sustainable. However, inflation increases by 20% annually in Iran.

In recent years, with Chinese collaboration, Iranian defense research and development has acquired technology to manufacture inexpensive drones, which has been seen in action against Ukraine. Iran is also waging an expensive war against a much more capable Israel in recent weeks. Their plans to weaken and control certain countries by proxy are under threat by Israel’s recent actions in Gaza and Lebanon as well as in Yemen by the US. Iran’s mosques are under state control, and they only preach the government’s narrative. As a result, several thousand mosques across the country have been empty in recent years. The Iranian people are bolder nowadays, and this was seen during the protests against the custodial death of Mahsa Amini.

The Church in Iran is one of the fastest growing in the region. However, with the growth comes persecution ranging from imprisonment to losing rights as a citizen. Iranians are seeking the TRUTH and finding themselves drawn to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Iranian Christian Believers are defiant and uncompromising in the face of extreme persecution in a country that ranks 9th in the Open Doors USA Persecution List of 2025.