The U.S. State Department has classified Iran as a “country of particular concern” for “having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

“Christian Suffering Likely to Continue Under Iran’s New President,” International Christian Concern, July 29, 2024:

7/29/2024 Iran (International Christian Concern) — The election of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in early July, brings little hope for Christians living under the new regime due to the nation’s relentless persecution of Christ followers.

Pezeshkian, who positioned himself as a moderate against his main rival, Saeed Jalili, won a run-off election after Iran’s previous president was killed in a helicopter crash in May. 

Despite Pezeshkian’s claims to be a reformer in women’s and minority rights, he has proudly announced his allegiance to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, a man who has persecuted Christians for decades. 

The Supreme Leader Khamenei, also known as the Ayatollah, is broadly considered to be the ultimate authority and the final say in all matters related to the Iranian government and law.

According to Iran International, Pezeshkian stated in an interview today that Khamenei’s objectives for the Middle Eastern nation are the correct path for the country to follow.

“We do have the broad policies coming from His Greatness…[Khamenei]. I did say in our [presidential] debates that those policies are the guiding light of our path and define our goal,” Pezeshkian said….