Islamic Republic Deploys Drones as 538+ Protesters Killed, Mosques Torched Across Nation With World's Fastest Growing Underground Church

Largest Uprising Since 1979 Islamic Revolution Sees Christians Converts Targeted While Millions Take Streets Against 47 Year Theocracy

Iran entered its third week of nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic with over 538 people killed according to US based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

The demonstrations that began December 28, 2025 over economic collapse have evolved into calls for regime change across all 31 provinces. Security forces are deploying surveillance drones to monitor and control protests while firing live ammunition at demonstrators.

At least 2,000 protesters were reportedly killed nationwide in a 48 hour period January 9 through 10 amid a government imposed internet blackout designed to hide the crackdown.

Hospitals in Tehran and Shiraz are overwhelmed with gunshot victims. Over 10,600 people have been detained. Protesters burned mosques in Tehran's Gholhak, Saadatabad, and other neighborhoods, along with government buildings and IRGC facilities. State media reported a mosque fire in Mashhad. Iranian state television showed footage of burned Qurans. In the Sadaf district of Hamadan Province, protesters set a Quran on fire and attempted to attack a mosque before authorities intervened.

The death toll includes 490 protesters and 48 members of security forces according to activists. The Iranian government has not released official casualty figures.

Islamic Republic Deploys Drones Against Protesters As Trump Warns Military Intervention

Iran deployed surveillance drones over protest sites in Tehran and other cities to monitor and track demonstrators. Military drone expert Cameron Chell told Fox News the drones give Iranian security forces a distinctive upper hand in combating protests.

President Donald Trump stated the United States would intervene if Iran continued killing protesters, saying the US was locked and loaded and ready to go. Trump threatened Iran would be hit very hard if security forces kept killing demonstrators.

He told reporters the military was looking at very strong options and said the US may restore internet communications by working with Elon Musk. Iran has jammed Starlink satellite transmitters during the protests. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not allow Iran to reestablish its missile or nuclear programs and suggested the protests marked Iranians taking their fate into their own hands.

Iran's parliament speaker warned US military and Israel would be legitimate targets if America strikes Iran. Iranian lawmakers rushed the parliamentary dais shouting Death to America. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the regime would talk to protesters but rioters must be put in their place. President Masoud Pezeshkian declared Iran was at total war with Israel, Europe and the United States. Iran's attorney general warned anyone participating in protests would be considered an enemy of God, which carries the death penalty under Islamic law.

Protesters are calling for the return of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last Shah before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Demonstrators chanted This is the last battle, Pahlavi will return and Javid Shah meaning long live the king. Pahlavi urged Iranians to seize and hold city centers rather than just take to the streets. He promised to lead a democratic transition and has spoken about how a future Iran would include religious minorities.

The protest movement began with shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar protesting economic conditions including 145,000 Iranian tomans per US dollar exchange rate and repeated electricity and gas disruptions.

Iran has one of the fastest growing Christian populations in the world despite the Islamic Republic ranking ninth among the world's top persecutors of Christians according to Open Doors 2025 annual report. Christianity is growing underground with estimates ranging from 1.2 to 2 million converts from Islam. A 2020 survey found 1.5 percent of Iranians identified as Christians. Only a few hundred

Christian converts existed when the Islamic Republic was founded in 1979. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal and punishable by death. Christian convert Nayereh Arjaneh began serving a five year prison sentence December 23, 2025 for promoting deviant propaganda and teachings contrary to Islamic law after attending a Christian training event in Turkey.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Protesters are torching the mosques of their oppressors.

The regime responds with surveillance drones and live ammunition.

Over 538 dead in two weeks.

Hospitals overwhelmed with gunshot victims.

Internet blackout to hide the massacre.

Meanwhile underground house churches spread faster than the regime can arrest them.

Two million Iranians may have converted to Christianity despite death penalty for apostasy.

Young Iranians watched 47 years of theft, violence and religious tyranny.

They've had enough of Islam and the mullahs who weaponized it.

Christianity offers what the Islamic Republic never could.

Freedom. Hope. Love without fear.

The regime calls Christian converts enemies of God and throws them in prison.

But you cannot arrest an idea whose time has come.

Iran had Christians before it had Muslims.

It may have them again when the mullahs fall.

TAKE ACTION

• Voice of the Martyrs: Support persecuted Iranian Christians at persecution.com who face arrest, torture and death penalty for converting from Islam under the Islamic Republic's apostate laws
• Open Doors USA: Give at opendoorsusa.org to provide Bibles, training and support for Iran's underground house church network growing despite government crackdown killing over 538 protesters
• International Christian Concern: Donate at icc.org to support legal defense and family assistance for imprisoned Iranian Christians like Nayereh Arjaneh serving five years for attending Christian training
• Pray for Iranian Protesters: Iranian Christians need protection as they face both Islamic Republic violence killing hundreds and potential for Christian converts to be specifically targeted during unrest
• Contact Your Representatives: Demand your government support religious freedom in Iran and condemn the Islamic Republic's killing of over 500 protesters while imprisoning Christians for their faith