People group profile · PG024127
The Iranian Arabs of Iran
The Iranian Arabs of Iran, numbering about 1,400,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Arab people concentrated in Khuzestan and the Persian Gulf region whose identity reflects centuries of Arab settlement in southwestern Iran and enduring cultural ties with neighboring Arab communities.
They are an indigenous people in the Arab, Arabian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Mesopotamian Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Iran
- Population
- 1,400,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Arabian
- Primary language
- Mesopotamian Arabic (acm)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Iranian Arabs are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Iranian Arabs
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Shia Islam · Islam
85% adherents
Primary language
Mesopotamian Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
95% speak Mesopotamian Arabic
Gospel resources in Mesopotamian Arabic
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Iranian Arabs
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
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