Iran (MNN) – The BBC recently released a story with the headline asking, ‘why are Iranians running out of hope?’
“Iranians are going through a major crisis both financially, and emotionally, and culturally, and socially. They’re in a very difficult situation where they feel that their future is very bleak,” Heart4Iran’s Mike Ansari says.
An Overview of the Crises in Iran
The people are battling an extreme economic crisis resulting from corruption, mishandling of money, and U.S. sanctions.
As a result, prices on basic necessities like food and medicine have spiked to as much as three times the original cost, and Iran’s currency has fallen more than half its value since the start of the year.
With the rise of the prices and devalue of Iran’s rial, basic necessities are becoming less accessible for the people.
People are going without food for days and are concerned with how they’re going to feed themselves and their families.
The BBC reported that the situation is no longer an economic crisis, but a catastrophe.
The deprival of necessities has heightened for Iranians with the ongoing drought in the nation. The drought is the worst Iran has had in 50 years.
Environmental official Mohammad Mjabi reported that 309 out of the 609 aquifers in the country are depleted, and people are no longer permitted to withdrawal water from those specific aquifers.
Rainfall has decreased and high temperatures are evaporating about two-thirds of any received rainfall, according to English Alarabiya.
Scientific American reported that experts said rainfall is expected to further decline by 20 percent by the end of the century, and temperatures could rise even higher than they are now.
The lack of water has triggered violent demonstrations throughout the nation, particularly in the south where people are lacking drinking water and are having many power cuts because of the extreme heating.
Finally, people are anxious as the nation fills with questions of changes in the government.
“There’s a lot of speaking about change inside Iran,” Ansari says.
“With the sanctions coming up again, obviously, Iranians think that the Iranian government is probably going to go through some major changes if not be overthrown by oppositions. Well, naturally many people are looking to the West to kind of foster that change or that revolution inside the country of Iran, but unfortunately, they’re very disappointed with the chances or with the people who are going to be candidates for replacing the current regime in Iran.”
With the unforeseeable improvement in the government, the economy, or the environment, Iranians are losing hope for their nation and their own future.
Heart4Iran’s Work
Ansari says Heart4Iran’s satellite tv channel, Mohabat TV, has received an increasing number of calls from concerned nationals in Iran.
Some callers are Christians, asking what their role is right now. A majority of callers, however, are Muslims and Christians alike seeking advice or counsel on what to do in the midst of the turmoil.
“What it is, is they’re going through either personal issues, or crisis, social issues, and they’re beside themselves. They have no idea what to do.”
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran via Facebook)
Heart4Iran’s Mohabat TV has a call center with trained phone counselors who engage with individuals and discuss how they can work through any struggles. Ansari says an average caller has six months of phone counseling to help them cope with their issues. Following the sessions, many callers want to know more about Jesus so they can have ‘permanent peace’.
Though counselors never pressure people into becoming believers, they will share about Jesus.
Heart4Iran invites you to join them on November 4 for an International Day of Prayer for Iran.
Pray for wisdom in the government, among the people and churches, and pray for the economy and environment.
Header photo by Mahir Uysal on Unsplash
