Update: urgent prayer needed as death toll in Iran increases and UN set to meet

Protests in Iran have gained global attention. How can we pray for the country at this pivotal time? How are Christians affected and how can we stand with the church in prayer?

In the rare moments of internet connection between Iran and the outside world, news of the steeply increasing death toll has reached media. The exact number of deaths is difficult to know, but the HRANA reports confirmed deaths of 4,902 with 9,387 deaths under investigation. The true number of people killed likely goes even beyond this figure.  

Amongst them are our brothers and sisters, those we know of and others whose names have not yet been reported. One Christian convert, Mohsen Rashidi, was a husband and father of three girls. When trying to recover the body of a friend killed during a demonstration, Mohsen was shot from behind. The authorities have forbidden his family from holding a funeral for him. He was numbered among the ten Christians who have been confirmed dead because of their participation in protests. The church in Iran is, of course, praying for violence to end against believers and non-believers alike. 

Reports have shown that, during the unrest, several Christian converts have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in house churches. Included is a lawyer who has defended Christians in court historically. She was arrested in Tehran, but details remain obscured due to the ongoing internet blackout. 

UN to host special meeting 

Today, Friday 23 January, the UN Human Rights Council will meet to discuss the current situation in Iran and the unprecedented unlawful killings of protesters. Please pray that this meeting will have great impact on the lives of Christians in Iran and all those seeking justice for their home. 

Please continue to pray for Iran: 

• For wisdom and guidance as the UN meets today 

• That God would bring deep comfort to the family of Mohsen, that the Prince of Peace would guard their grieving hearts 

• For Christians arrested or in prison to know that they are not alone 

• That God’s light would shine through the church in Iran, bringing true freedom and hope to all those suffering 

• That the Lord would bring about lasting change and enable every Iranian citizen to enjoy freedom of religious belief. 

18 January 2026

Unrest in Iran: how to pray 

Widespread unrest in Iran has captured headlines around the world. The protests on Iran’s streets are certainly in response to economic pressures and livelihood pressures – but they are a reflection of a far deeper crisis. 

“What we are witnessing in Iran today is a cry for dignity, justice and life itself,” shares an Open Doors source from the region. “It is a cry rising from streets soaked in fear and courage alike. Street protests have expanded across the entire nation, and security forces respond with mass arrests and lethal force, in an attempt to control the masses.” 

What does this mean for Christians? 

Christians are always vulnerable in Iran. It’s number ten on the Open Doors World Watch List, and believers – particularly converts from Islam – face severe religious freedom violations. Our Iranian brothers and sisters experience persecution from the government and often from their own communities too. 

In the eyes of the Iranian authorities, Christians are ‘national security threats’, supposedly foreign agents influenced by Western countries to undermine the Iranian regime. This framing of Christianity leads to converts from Islam and house church leaders being prosecuted under national security charges, often resulting in heavy prison terms, simply for gathering for prayer and worship. These existing strictures are exacerbated by the current uprising. 

How are Christians affected? 

“Iranian Christians view the current situation through a strong commitment to justice, human dignity and peace,” shares the Open Doors local source. “This is shaped both by their lived experience of marginalisation and by Christian ethics emphasising non-violence and love of one’s neighbour.” 

She continues: “As Persian-speaking believers without recognised places of worship and under constant pressure, their desire for change is deeply personal, yet they understand the present moment not as a religious uprising but as a unified national movement. Whether visible on the streets or standing in prayer and solidarity, Iranian Christians who participate do so first as Iranian citizens, motivated by conscience and a shared hope for a future defined by equality, accountability and respect for human life across all religious and ethnic lines.”

In recent days, at least seven Iranian-Armenian Christians have been confirmed among those killed by the security forces during the nationwide protests. One of the victims has been publicly identified as Ejmin Masihi, while reliable sources have confirmed that six other Christians were also killed. Additionally, at least three Christians have been injured.

At least one Christian convert is among the thousands arrested during the mass detentions across the country. This is deeply concerning, as converts are particularly vulnerable in detention and often face harsher treatment due to their faith.

An Iranian Christian shares: “Our beloved Iran cries out for justice, dignity, and a future where every citizen, including Christians, can live in peace and opportunity, free from fear and poverty. May the bravery of our people be the seed of a renewed and united homeland.”

These developments show that both recognized Christian communities (Armenians and Assyrians) and unrecognized communities (Christian converts) are now directly paying with their lives and freedom. Iranian Christians are not on the margins of this crisis; they are among those standing, suffering, and dying alongside their fellow citizens.

Please pray 

Your prayers are urgently needed for Iran and for our Iranian brothers and sisters. Local believers ask that you join in praying for: 

• Peace, protection and wisdom for the people of Iran amid violence and uncertainty 

• Comfort for families who have lost loved ones, including the seven Christian victims, and divine healing for those injured and traumatised 

• Iranian Christians to have courage, protection and perseverance in this season of unrest 

• Unfair arrests to cease, and that innocent prisoners – both those recently arrested and those serving existing sentences – would find grace in the eyes of the prison guards 

• Leaders and decision-makers worldwide to act justly and speak boldly for freedom of religion and belief 

• Restored internet and communication with people inside the country 

• For the Lord’s provision of necessities as prices sharply rise, shelves empty and some businesses are burnt down

• That feelings of bitterness and hopelessness would turn the eyes of many towards Jesus
  
• For all Iranians outside the country who are worried about relatives and friends, especially when contact is so difficult
  
• God’s light to shine through the church in Iran, bringing true freedom, dignity and hope.