Iran (MNN) — Pressure on Iran from without and within may lead to a new balance of powers between nations.
What’s going on outside of Iran?
“Iran is at the cross-junction of deciding whether they want to continue their relationship with the West or become closer to Russia and China,” says Mike Ansari with Heart4Iran.
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)
He says Iran’s financial situation today is dire. “There are still embargoes, and we anticipate that under President Trump’s administration there will be more pressure on Iran and the Iranian government.”
Case in point: On March 14, Iranian, Russian and Chinese foreign ministers met in Beijing. They called for a lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran for its disputed nuclear program, and for diplomatic dialogue to resume over the issue.
A week later, the U.S. imposed a new round of sanctions, this time including a Chinese refinery purchasing Iranian crude oil.
“The Supreme Leader has basically state[d] his position that he does not envision Iran getting closer to America,” Ansari says. “[Yet] there are people in his government that are pushing for a closer relationship with China, because that would release a lot of financial pressure on Iran and Iranian people.”
However, Ansari notes, others know that aligning with China may not be to the best interests of Iranian people long-term.
What’s going on inside Iran?
In the midst of these geopolitical rumblings, the people of Iran long for freedom and stability but are getting neither.
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)
“The challenge that potentially may take place is the discontent within the Iranian communities and society may reach a [climax] again, which may lead to some kind of uprising among its citizens,” Ansari says.
“[The] Iranian government is going to deal with an iron fist if that happens, because that’s exactly what they did during the last uprising. Countless number[s] of people were executed. There was no accountability [from the international community].”
But whenever a community is in crisis and faced with hopelessness, Ansari says, there is an innate desire in people to seek hope. Iranians are finding it in the gospel. Yet in a closed country like Iran it’s hard to know how much the church is growing.
“[Heart4Iran call center members] are still getting phone calls from inside Iran, people who are responding to the gospel, and many of them are praying and asking to receive Jesus,” Ansari says.
“We feel that the gospel is still spreading inside Iran, but [we’re] not hearing much about it, because people are genuinely afraid of retaliations from the government.”
Find your place in the story
It’s easy to consider Iran in a negative light especially after the past year plus of wars in the Middle East. But Ansari urges us not to accept the rhetoric that mainstream media gives. Instead, pray full of compassion and hope for what God can do in Iran.
(Photo courtesy of Denis Oliveira/Heart4Iran)
“The reality of the matter is that Jesus left ninety-nine to attend to one. People of Iran are very noble. They are coming to Christ. They are fed up. They’re highly persecuted, and it is important for us to know that they’re not a lost cause,” says Ansari. “It is spiritual warfare at the end of the day.”
Finally, please pray for the maturity and strength of Christians in Iran under persecution.
“A lot of Iranians that decide to convert from Islam to Christianity are realizing that it is hopeless to stay in Iran and continue to be persecuted. Many of them are choosing to leave Iran, but that is creating a crisis where the church, as fast as this is growing in Iran, is dealing with a lack of depth,” Ansari says.
“Should there be any kind of a change in the governments or in the fabrics of [the] Iranian political system, the church does need solid believers to stand on his feet if he wants to survive.”
Header image courtesy from a user named Pavellllllll on Pixabay.
