Iran (MNN) — The Iranian regime recently labeled several evangelical Christian satellite TV channels as “hostile” media organizations.
These include Mohabat TV, SAT-7’s Persian channel SAT-7 PARS, Nejat, and Seven.
“These are the [organizations] who have been on air for such a long time, and they need to be credited for the spread of Christianity,” says Edwin Abnous, Heart4Iran’s executive director.
Mohabat TV is the media branch of Heart4Iran. Abnous says their team was already well aware that Iran’s Islamic government was against them. Mohabat TV has been broadcasting gospel programs into Iran for 20 years.
Abnous says the new label from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence can’t prevent their 24/7 gospel content from reaching into Iran. However, he does expect a drop in communication from people inside Iran.
“Our audience will be much more careful, and they would know that they need to take the security measures much more seriously,” he says.
Those caught reaching out to Mohabat TV could face prosecution and be labeled as enemies of the state under the espionage law introduced in 2025. Abnous says this risk comes because the regime claims that Iranian Christian TV channels preach Zionist Christian theology, favoring their enemy Israel.
“Anytime they hear the name of Israel — and obviously you hear that a lot because it is in the Old Testament — they label them as spies connecting with the foreign government and trying to overthrow the regime,” says Abnous.
Christian channels aren’t the only ones the regime has labeled “hostile.” BBC Persia and Iran International are also on the list. Abnous explains that the regime will deem any organization, channel, or ministry as an enemy of the state if it promotes anything that goes against Islamic religious beliefs.
Abnous calls the “hostile” label and attempted restrictions on what Iranians watch a violation of Iranian’s freedom of religion or belief.
“But again, this regime has shown time and time again that they do not care about personal and private belief, and they do not care about human rights, and they will do anything in their power to restrict it,” he says.
“The fact of the matter is Islam has lost its credit. It’s bankrupt, and government legitimacy is under question, and this is one of the ways to take control of the people’s private life, and that is to impose a threat and induce fear in their lives.”
Please pray for Iranian Christians under intensifying persecution.
“Iranian Christians understand the price of the faith, and no matter what, they will follow Christ to the end,” says Abnous. “Pray for their courage, pray for their security and safety. These are brother sisters who experience persecution firsthand. We need to make sure that international communities are aware of these unlawful restrictions put on Iranian people.”
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