Iran has made it perfectly clear that the same old sick regime is 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.

Indeed, it’s a continuation of the regime’s appalling record on crackdowns against religious minorities in the country, which included the arrest of more than 300 Christians in 2024 — with the lure of directly attacking a group seen as aligned with America. 

Add in Iran’s repeated violations of the cease-fire — firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and at assorted countries around the region — and its horrific record of lies and broken promises and there’s more than ample reason to distrust Tehran in any deal Trump manages to reach.

Because here’s the reality: There is no new regime. The same crew of anti-American fanatics — or like-minded lunatics who’ve replaced them — are clearly still in command.

And ready to hurt the innocent and strike at the Great Satan and Little Satan whenever and wherever they can. 

Need more proof? How about the recent call by Iran’s Assembly of Experts demanding the death of “the wicked prime minister of the Zionist regime” and “the criminal American president” — a religious duty, they instructed, that must be carried out “under any circumstances.”

This is their idea of peace-making and “turning over a new leaf”? 

Yet the church fiasco does even more to expose the regime than all the chest-beating —- because officials who hold power in that case have already taken concrete action, confiscating property and pushing out residents.

Trump may think he can wring a deal out of his negotiating partners that America can live with. But make no mistake about Iran’s leadership.