"The highest estimate was that up to 3 million converts live in Iran, convening in underground churches, which you just cannot admire the courage of these people enough," Khatiri said.  

He warns that when the U.S. bombing ends, 90 million Iranians could be swept into a catastrophic civil war. That includes Christians.

"You could have a scenario that Iran is dismembered, with some portion of the territory held by remnants of the regime and even asking for foreign militaries like Russia or China or whoever, to enter to help them," he explained.

Imagine a balkanized country, where Turkey moves into Iranian territory; Israel and the Arab states, now united against Iran, could end up turning on each other, with each fighting for a piece of Persia.