Iran Doubles Christian Arrests as Catholic Woman Hunger Strikes in Evin Prison

Iran has doubled its arrests of Christians from 139 in 2024 to 254 in 2025, while Catholic convert Ghazal Marzban endures a hunger strike in Tehran's notorious Evin prison after receiving a near-decade sentence for practicing her faith. This escalating, state-sanctioned persecution of Christians — including the planned seizure of St. Peter's Church in Tehran — mirrors the pattern Jesus explicitly warned believers to expect before His return. Christ's words in Matthew 24:9 are unfolding in real time: 'You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.'