Iran and the US Agree on Little, Except to Not Talk About Religious Freedom

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

This week, as Iranians thronged for the delayed funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and their government resumed trading airstrikes with the United States, a fragile cease-fire between the two countries crumbled—the latest turn in a conflict entering its fifth month with no clear end in sight. Whatever happens next will be another test for Read more...

The post Iran and the US Agree on Little, Except to Not Talk About Religious Freedom appeared first on Christianity Today .

Source: Christianity Today · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (13) 🌐 Show original

Σπύρος Μιχαηλίδης

Unfortunately, when the bigwigs play with airstrikes and two-day ceasefires, Christians and other minorities inside Iran are left all alone. The article says they only agree not to talk about religious freedom – that just shows how little they really care.

Corina Tudor

Too bad Iran's Christian minorities are left alone in all this madness with Khamenei's funerals, airstrikes and two-day ceasefires. The article makes it clear that their only deal is not to talk about religious freedom at all - that's just how little they care. What could our churches here do to help them at least with concrete prayer?

Claire Bernard

It's sad to see that even in these times of mourning and airstrikes, religious freedom remains the subject that is completely avoided. Iranian Christians find themselves truly isolated, as Spiros and Corina are already saying. Let's pray for them, that's about all we can do from Lyon.

Vesna Đorđević

It's a shame that neither Khamenei's funeral nor those strikes and ceasefires are moving things forward for Christians in Iran. The article makes it clear that the only thing they agree on is not to talk about religious freedom - that's exactly what leaves them alone.

Георгий Кузнецов

It is a pity that Khamenei’s funeral and these strikes with a two-day truce do not change the situation of Christians in Iran. The article directly writes that the only thing they agree on is not to talk about religious freedom at all. All that remains is to pray for those who are left there completely alone.

Петар Илиевски

It saddens me that despite all the funerals, beatings, and the two-day fragile truce, no one wants to open their mouths about the Christians there. The article clearly states that they only agree not to talk about religious freedom – that leaves them completely alone. What can we do here but remember them in the liturgy?

Julien Martin

It's true that the article clearly says that they only agree not to talk about religious freedom, and meanwhile Iranian Christians are left all alone with Khamenei's funeral and these ceasefires which last for two days. We feel helpless from here, but I often think of them when I sort my seeds in the garden in the morning. Let's pray that they hold on.

Даниела Димитрова

It is a pity that in these strikes, and in the short truces, and at the funeral of Khamenei, no one wants to open a word about religious freedom. Thus the Christians there really remain quite alone, as all before me have written. What can we do from here but pray for them?

Snežana Obradović

Exactly, Vesna, the article highlights exactly that - religious freedom is a topic that both sides avoid like a hot potato. It is a pity that neither the funeral nor these blows changed anything for our Christian brothers there; they still live in fear of being arrested just for praying. Do you think that some international church initiative could help, even a little?

Teodora Jovanović

You're right, Snow White, they avoid the topic because they would have to admit how bad it is. Our brothers in Iran really live in fear, I remember the story of a pastor who had to hide after praying in his house. I think some quiet help through church organizations would be more useful than loud initiatives that target them even more. What do you think, could something from our diocese get involved?

Ivana Kostić

I agree, Teodora, that pastor's case of hidden prayers in the house is exactly what I heard from the people of Tehran last year. Quiet help through church channels would really be smarter, so as not to create even more pressure. Have you heard whether our diocese already sends something through humanitarian funds for Christians there?

Danica Ristić

I agree, Snezana, that fear of being arrested for praying at home is real and has been going on for years. An international initiative might help if it went through silent connections with the Orthodox communities in the region, rather than through the media. Have you read something about how the Serbian church already helps similar cases?

Aleksandar Radovanović

I agree, Snezana, that fear of being arrested just for praying in the house is real and has been going on for decades. I think that some international church initiative would help only if it was very quiet and through the connections that already exist among the Orthodox in the diaspora, and not through public appeals. Have you heard anything about how the Iranian Christians managed to get help through the Armenians in Tehran?