The Promiscuous Brazil-Iran Relationship
Before we begin, let’s look at the numbers:
Iran ranks 10th on the Open Doors International list in 2026 among the countries that most persecute Christians worldwide. This position shows that religious persecution in the country is considered severe.
According to Open Doors, Iran’s population is approximately 90.4 million people, of which only 800,000 are Christians — representing about 0.9% of the nation.
Based on official estimates, the US State Department reported in 2021 that Iran allocates around $100 million per year to Hamas and other extremist groups. The Persian nation is recognized as one of Hamas’s main financiers, involved in one of the largest ongoing wars in the Middle East against Israel. On several occasions, Iran has threatened to annihilate the Israeli state.
In addition, Iran is identified as the largest financier of Hezbollah, a group that has joined Hamas with the declared goal of attacking Jews. In practice, nearly all extremist groups in the region converge around the same objective: destroying Israel.
Although the Middle East is marked by bloody conflicts between Islamic factions — Shiites and Sunnis — when it comes to Israel, there is a union of forces against the country.
Jewish activist André Lajst, president of StandWithUs Brasil, denounced on his Instagram profile that Iranian women have been raped, mutilated, and murdered by the Persian Islamic regime.
On the international stage, Brazil maintains a close relationship with Iran. In addition to being one of its largest trading partners, there is also diplomatic alignment. In 2023, according to CNN, even under US opposition, two Iranian military vessels docked in Brazilian territory.
Because they were warships, the stop was only possible with authorization from the Navy. At the time, US Ambassador to Brazil Elizabeth Bagley stated:
“These ships, in the past, facilitated illicit trade and terrorist activities and have already been sanctioned by the UN. Brazil is a sovereign country, but we strongly believe these ships should not dock anywhere.”
This episode highlights how Brazil’s current moment is politically and socially delicate, bringing risks both nationally and internationally.
In light of this, the first step is to bend our knees and genuinely pray for our country, pleading for spiritual renewal and, without a doubt, for the right choice of our leaders.
