Iran (MNN) — On Friday, Iran and Russia signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty. It is not a formal alliance such as Russia and North Korea forged in 2024, with promises to defend each other if attacked. Yet it does outline significant economic and military cooperation.
Mike Ansari with Heart4Iran explains what’s unfolding in the Middle East: “The fall of long-standing regimes like Assad’s in Syria has disrupted traditional alliances and balance of power in the region,” he says.
“Therefore, we are seeing that power dynamics are shifting. It appears Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel are now more involved in redefining their influence in the region.”
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)
In particular, Iran has suffered a “strategic and geopolitical setback” from events in Syria, Ansari says; its military footprint has been reduced. There is also turmoil within the nation.
“Iran made substantial investment to support Assad’s regime, especially in light of Iran’s ongoing economic challenges and public dissent,” Ansari explains. “So most Iranians are upset their national wealth was redirected to Syria, and are demanding the leadership to account for their missteps.”
Meanwhile, Christians persevere under pressure by God’s grace.
“In Iran, Christians have continued to face significant challenges, including government surveillance, harassment and legal restrictions. And in Syria, the rise of Islamist factions will pose significant risks to Christian evangelism, but Christians in Iran and Syria continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience.”
Keep asking God to bring peace and stability across the Middle East. (Learn more here about what Heart4Iran does to further the spread of the gospel across the region.)
“We need to understand that [the] Middle East requires empathy. Power struggles often carry human costs,” Ansari says. “The international community will need to continue to prioritize diplomacy, humanitarian aid and sustainable solutions for the region.”
Header photo of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian courtesy of Khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150832367.
