According to Christianity Today, Iranian officials have officially closed St. Peter Evangelical Church in Tehran, marking the end of the country’s last remaining Presbyterian congregation. The closure follows a series of increasing government restrictions on religious minority institutions that have spanned several decades.
The church, which had operated for 150 years, served as a prominent landmark in the capital city. Its history included a long tenure of providing community services and maintaining a visible presence in the neighborhood. Former elder Mansour Khajehpour noted that the church was widely recognized by local residents during his time living in the area in the early 1990s.
The Iranian government has steadily reduced the operational capacity of the church over the past several years. Authorities previously imposed strict mandates regarding the language of worship, requiring services to be conducted in Farsi rather than the traditional Armenian or Assyrian dialects. These restrictions were part of a broader state effort to limit the influence of Christian groups perceived as operating outside of sanctioned religious frameworks.
The closure of St. Peter follows the systematic shutdown of other historic Christian sites across Iran. In recent years, the government has transitioned many church properties into state-controlled entities or seized them entirely. Officials have maintained that these actions are necessary to uphold national security and manage religious registration requirements.
Mansour Khajehpour described the loss as a significant blow to the history of the Christian community in Iran. He stated, “The closing of this church represents the end of an era for Iranian Presbyterians.”
Reports indicate that the church’s leadership had attempted to negotiate with local authorities to preserve the building’s status as a place of worship. However, those efforts were unsuccessful, and the facility is now under the control of government-appointed administrators. The building is expected to be repurposed for secular state use in the coming months.
International religious freedom observers are currently monitoring the situation to determine if further legal action can be taken to challenge the seizure. No official statement regarding the future of the church's assets has been released by the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The congregation has ceased all public gatherings, and there are no scheduled services at the location.
Source: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/07/iran-shutters-landmark-church/