Iran (MNN) — May 20, 2026, is day 82 of the United States-Israel war on Iran, and day 43 of the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Lana Silk with Transform Iran says the US-Iran ceasefire has been extremely helpful to the Iranian regime. “It’s given them an opportunity to catch their breath, to regroup, restrategize and strengthen themselves, really, for whatever rounds are coming next,” she notes.
In the meantime, the people of Iran continue to be harassed and helpless under increasing economic and government pressures. Silk heard about a recent message delivered by a key Islamic leader in Iran:
(Stock photo courtesy of Javad Esmaeili via Unsplash)
“He was talking about donations for missiles and how there needs to be public participation in financing military costs because of this incredible ‘holy war’ that Iran is on,” she says.
Pressures also come from international forces.
“We’ve had reports of Iraqi forces circling in Iran,” says Silk. “Sort of these caravans driving around in towns and cities on their motorcycles, shouting, ‘Haydar, haydar’ — or ‘War until victory,’ basically — and really just creating an atmosphere of fear and tension and the sort of Islamic objectives really pushed in people’s faces.”
But Iraqi Muslim people aren’t the only ones traveling across Iran with a mission.
“We have church members still traveling place to place, sharing the gospel,” says Silk. “We’ve had stories of salvations, people taking great risk, because they know that this bread of life that they carry is so much more important than regular bread that people are desperately seeking.”
Pray for God to speed and protect these believers as they bring the gospel of hope.
“They’re desperate to share it with people and make sure that as many people as possible are brought into the kingdom of light while they still have time,” says Silk. “Pray for the church to continue courageously and be protected. Pray for the hope and the future that God has for our country.”
Learn more about Transform Iran’s mission and ministry to the people of Iran here.
Header photo of Tehran, Iran (Stock photo courtesy of Seyed Amir Mohammad via Unsplash)
