Iran Has Made It Perfectly Clear the Old Sick Regime Still in Charge

Iran’s move to seize Tehran’s historic St. Peter Evangelical Church and evict the 20 families who live there makes one thing clear: Whoever’s actually in charge of the Islamic Republic is just as radical as the previous cadre.

The regime’s action clashes directly with President Donald Trump’s claim that the new mullahs are “very rational people,” “not radicalized” like their predecessors in office. 

No: It’s a case of “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” 

Per one Iranian pastor, the move — which has roots in a US mission from the 19th century and has already involved significant persecution by the regime — came as a direct result of the US posture.

“I will tell you the literal words they used, ‘We were concerned about America all these years. America came. They slapped us on the face. We slapped them on the face back. And then America withdrew. So we are no longer afraid of America,’ ” Sasan Tavassoli told The Free Press.