Iranian authorities have threatened to seize Tehran's historic St. Peter Evangelical Church and evict approximately 20 families residing within its compound, according to multiple reports. The move is seen by some observers as a retaliatory measure against the United States and Israel, following recent geopolitical events.
St. Peter Evangelical Church, founded in 1872 by American Presbyterian missionaries, has served as a sanctuary and support system for low-income Christian families for years. However, the church has already experienced the confiscation of a 2.5-acre garden, which is reportedly now occupied by officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Reports indicate that orders to seize the church property have been issued under the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order group, a state-affiliated entity that is attempting to establish a new deed for the church. Sargez Benyamin, executive secretary of the Synod of the Evangelical Church of Iran in Diaspora, stated that the church lacks legal recourse due to the absence of an independent judiciary in Iran. He further noted that church documents and properties have been confiscated and new deeds issued in the name of an organization under the supreme leader.
Sasan Tavassoli, an Iranian Presbyterian pastor in the United States with direct contacts at the church, relayed that Iranian officials expressed a shift in their fear of the U.S. following recent military actions. "We were concerned about America all these years. America came. They slapped us on the face. We slapped them on the face back. And then America withdrew. So we are no longer afraid of America," Tavassoli recounted.
The church's American origins and its significant property value, estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, may also be factors in the regime's decision, Tavassoli suggested.
Church officials expressed concern that a recent court ruling, which allows the regime to seize American assets within the country, could pave the way for the church's confiscation. Security forces have reportedly entered the church premises to identify residents in preparation for their eviction and the state's takeover.
Benyamin warned that the 20 families living in the church complex face destitution and potential arrest if they are forced to leave. Allies of the church abroad are calling for international pressure and aid to protect the church and its residents.
This action is part of a broader pattern of crackdowns on religious minorities in Iran. The Center for Human Rights in Iran reported over 300 arrests of Christians in 2024, with many facing national security charges. Amnesty International also documented numerous cases in 2025 involving charges and property seizures against members of minority communities, including Christians, Baha'is, and Jews.