Iran\u2019s move to seize Tehran\u2019s historic St. Peter Evangelical Church and evict the 20 families who live there makes one thing clear: Whoever\u2019s actually in charge of the Islamic Republic is just as radical as the previous cadre.<\/p>\n
The regime\u2019s action clashes directly with President Donald Trump\u2019s claim<\/a> that the new mullahs are \u201cvery rational people,\u201d \u201cnot radicalized\u201d like their predecessors in office.\u00a0<\/p>\n No: It\u2019s a case of \u201cmeet the new boss, same as the old boss.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Per one Iranian pastor, the move<\/a> \u2014 which has roots in a US mission from the 19th century and has already involved significant persecution by the regime \u2014 came as a direct result of the US posture.<\/p>\n \u201cI will tell you the literal words they used, \u2018We 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,\u2019 \u201d Sasan Tavassoli told The Free Press.<\/a><\/p>\n Indeed, it\u2019s a continuation of the regime\u2019s appalling record on crackdowns against religious minorities in the country, which included the arrest of more than 300 Christians in 2024 \u2014 with the lure of directly attacking a group seen as aligned with America.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\tMore From\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost Editorial Board<\/p>\n Add in Iran\u2019s repeated violations of the cease-fire \u2014 firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and at assorted countries around the region \u2014 and its horrific record of lies and broken promises and there\u2019s more than ample reason to distrust Tehran in any deal Trump manages to reach.<\/p>\n Because here\u2019s the reality: There is no new regime. The same crew of anti-American fanatics \u2014 or like-minded lunatics who\u2019ve replaced them \u2014 are clearly still in command.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet opinions and commentary from our columnists\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter!\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n And ready to hurt the innocent and strike at the Great Satan and Little Satan whenever and wherever they can.\u00a0<\/p>\n