Tehran has inaugurated a recent metro station named after the Virgin Mary, an unusual move within the Islamic Republic that has drawn each praise and criticism, in addition to international attention.
The Virgin Mary Station – Maryam Moghaddas in Persian – opened this week on Line 7 of Tehran’s subway network. Iranian officials said the name was chosen as a “symbol of respect” for Mary, mother of Jesus, who’s venerated in each Christianity and Islam.
Located in northern Tehran near Armenian and Assyrian Christian neighbourhoods, the station features Persian tilework and ornamental lighting interwoven with Christian iconography, including stylised depictions of the Virgin Mary.
Iranian state media described the naming as a gesture of “cultural coexistence”, and pictures of the station were widely shared on Persian-language social media. Many users welcomed the move as “unexpected” but “positive”, while others said such gestures contrast sharply with “the day-to-day pressures faced by religious minorities”.
Although Christianity is officially recognised in Iran, rights groups have documented continuing restrictions on religious freedom, particularly for converts and unregistered congregations. Reports through the years have cited arrests, surveillance, and harassment of Christian communities.
A social media user on X (formerly Twitter) who lives in Iran claimed that the choice to call the brand new station was made “since the Islamic Republic is desperate”.
The post went on to suggest that the move was “attempting to polish its global image and manipulate Western audiences – especially conservatives and spiritual figures like Donald Trump, who deeply respect the Virgin Mary and Christian values”.
The naming, international media noted, comes amid heightened criticism of Iran’s treatment of Christians and other minorities.
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