As Iran’s economic crisis deepens, authorities have imposed harsh measures that deplete what little savings citizens have left.

Nazanin Baghestani from Heart4Iran recalls a heartbreaking call from one mother. Her son was accused of stealing fifty dollars and fined five thousand dollars for his release.

“This mom was crying, and she said, This is injustice, and where do I get that money from?” adds Baghestani.

These steep fines are one way the government refills its coffers.

An Iranian woman stands at an overlook with a panoramic view of Tehran, Iran (Photo, caption courtesy of IMB CC 4.0)

“Of money, like 80% of all the government finance goes to the nuclear weapon, goes to war against Israel, weapons,” Baghestani explains.

She says less than ten percent of resources reach ordinary citizens. The result is food stortage, shuttered businesses, and failing banks. Since the United Nations reinstated sanctions in October, pressure on the population has only increased.

Yet amid the hardship, stories of hope continue to emerge.

One single mother who couldn’t afford school supplies for her son called the hotline for prayer.

“Two weeks later,” recalls Baghestani, “she called and said, My son’s classmate’s father just came and helped him. He came and gave him the books he needed.”

This act became pivotal in her faith journey. She had believed Jesus was only a prophet, but seeing such a quick answer to prayer changed her heart. “And she said, I always believed in Jesus, but now I believe He is alive — and He really listens,” adds Baghestani.

Kurdistan Province, Iran (photo courtesy of Peyvand Pezeshki via Pexels)

While there are many inspiring stories, fear of government discovery keeps many testimonies hidden.

“I’m sure God is at work in people’s lives and, you know, providing for them here and there,” Baghestani shares. “But unfortunately, we don’t always hear the testimonies because people are afraid to call.”

Pray that the hope of Christ will shine through Iran’s financial despair — in every family and community. Visit Heart4Iran to see how they find ways to encourage Iranians despite the crisis.

Header photo: Man in Mazandaran Province, Iran (photo courtesy of Lumière Rezaie via Unsplash).

“After the war, they realized there are many spies [who] find government secrets and send [them] to Israel,” she says. “They are blaming everyone.”

One watchdog organization reports that journalists have been especially targeted. Baghestani adds Christians and Baha’is to the list. She says the government accuses believers of being “Zionist Christians” spying for Israel. It’s a fast track to prison. 

“More than I would say 70 Christians are in prison currently, awaiting their sentences,” Baghestani says. 

Heart4Iran knows of house churches that have been raided and at least one pastor who was arrested and tortured so severely that he shared names of other believers. 

“Some have just left their homes and cars where they are, and they just fled for their lives,” says Baghestani. “It’s sad, because we have prayed with these friends, with these Christians inside the country. We have discipled them. They are like our [children], and we are responsible for them.”

People’s fear of being monitored has kept them from calling Heart4Iran’s counseling center, which has seen its daily call volume drop.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“Everybody — Christian or non-Christian, the youth, the old — they all live in fear. Fear of arrest, fear of even getting killed on the streets. They come and stab you, and nobody knows why. You’re dead on the street, bleeding, and there is no answer,” Baghestani says. 

“When Mahsa Amini [protests] started, all the youth [rose up]. But now the youth are quiet. Where are they? They’re scared. They’re afraid.”

She says Iranians are placing notes and stickers in public places as signs of protest rather than taking to the streets themselves.

Let these accounts lead your prayers for the Iranian church.

“The Lord is good. The Lord is faithful. The Lord can protect them in the midst of all the persecution,” Baghestani says. 

Then, share this story. Visit Heart4Iran’s website to learn more about the Church in Iran.

“When we educate one another [about] what’s going on, when we bring awareness, we will be able to pray better for our people inside the country,” Baghestani says. 

“As much as we feel we are safe and there is no persecution, at these end times, persecution is spreading. If there is persecution in Iran, it will ooze out, and it will affect Christians all over the world.” 

Header image is a stock photo from Tehran, Iran courtesy of Seyed Amir Mohammad Tabatabaee.

Nazanin Baghestani from Heart4Iran highlights the stark contrast between the way Persians and the government treat Kurds. “The people are so welcoming. You know, the Persians welcome all ethnicities, but the government is really against the Kurds, because some are Sunnis,” she explains, noting that the government is Shia.

Kurdistan Province, Iran (photo courtesy of Peyvand Pezeshki via Pexels)

Consequently, Kurds face systematic abuse. “There’s so much poverty among them, unemployment and even lack of services, lack of health insurances and they have to suffer through all this,” she adds.

Christian Kurds face a double threat: both for their ethnicity and their conversion from Islam. Baghestani recalls tragic events affecting some believers: “The ones who smuggled Bibles through the border inside the country get shot by the secret police.”

Yet, there is a plentiful harvest among Kurds.

Heart4Iran provides a way for Iranians to contact them and ask burning questions. Nazanin says that out of 3,000–4,000 calls, 100 are from Kurds. Of those, 70 per cent give their heart to Christ!

Their testimonies help shape outreach events, tailored to the needs of Kurds living in a stateless, rights-deprived environment. But the surest way to capture a Kurd’s attention from the first word is to speak in their language.

Take this man, for example:

“He came to Christ because he read a Kurdish Gospel, and he was so surprised that the Gospel was translated to Kurdish language, and he felt at home.”

He felt important, cared for, and valued — because someone had taken the time to translate the Gospel into his language.

“It was heartwarming to see how happy he was to read the Gospel in his own language,” Baghestani adds.

As Heart4Iran engages with many Iranians, you can support them by visiting their website or reading their news to know how to pray.

One of Baghestani’s biggest requests is for more local workers: “Pray for those Pauls and Peters to come out of the Kurdish people, and they will go and preach the Gospel to their own people.”

Representative header photo of a Kurd courtesy of Dastan Khdir via Pexels.

Photo of Tehran, Iran courtesy of Hamid Mohammad Hossein Zadeh Hashemi via Unsplash.

According to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, more than 50 Christians are among those who have been arrested since the June 24 ceasefire.

Nazanin Baghestani with Heart4Iran says the regime’s strategy of fear is working.

“People are afraid to call. People are afraid to talk to us. All their phone calls, all their apps are being tapped. Everything is monitored, and people inside the country have lost their hope.” 

Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, has led public dialogue on what a democratic Iran could look like. But Baghestani says politics are not the real frontline for the Church.

“Even if Reza Pahlavi comes on the scene, it doesn’t mean that the root of Islam is broken. It’s still there, and the persecution and the hardships will still be there,” she said. 

“We should pray that in spite of all this darkness, people will see the Lord.” 

Heart4Iran broadcasts Christian satellite TV into Iran, a medium that the Iranian government can’t so easily control. It’s a lifeline for isolated believers. So is the work of Heart4Iran’s call center team. They are carefully reaching out to Iranians. 

One man they connected with told them, “I see this as a sign from God that He still loves me.” 

One woman was overjoyed and said, “This is the first time I’m speaking to a Christian. We don’t know any Christians here, but we [have been] watching your channels for four years, and this is the first time I’ve called. I am so happy that I’m talking with a Christian.”

They are also seeing God do miracles! One widow reached out to the Heart4Iran team in desperate need of money and daily provisions.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“Of course, we cannot help her from here. We prayed for her. We encouraged her to believe in the Lord,” said Baghestani. “Unexpectedly, she received money from [a] far relative who owed her [late] husband. He paid the amount that he owed out of nowhere.”

Praise God for sending hope to His people. Pray for great spiritual awakening in Iran. Pray for protection for Iranian Christians, that they will not be discovered by authorities. 

“[We are] praying for hope, courage, strength, that in spite of all their disappointments, all their hardships, the inflation, the arrests, the tensions, the fear…that they will have hope and they will press on,” says Baghestani. 

Header photo is an image capture courtesy of Heart4Iran.

The wail of sirens echoing through traffic-clogged roads has become a grim routine in Tehran. Other regions with strategic sites are experiencing the same reality, with people either fleeing or adjusting to life under the shadow of war.

Since the war between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13, 2025, the situation has rapidly escalated. The outcome remains unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the Iranian people need our prayers. Nazanin Baghestani from Heart4Iran offers four key points to help guide intercession.

A map showing the countries bordering Iran. (image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

1. This conflict is more than a war between nations.
“Regimes are clashing with young, popular or religious movements in a civilizational struggle,” says Baghestani. Iran is facing a power vacuum, and if events take a different turn, the country could spiral into civil war or fall into the hands of extremist groups.

Pray for God’s will to prevail, and for wisdom and unity among the Iranian people as they seek a new future.

2. Emotions are deeply mixed.
In a historically unique moment, many Iranians feel both fear and a strange sense of hope when foreign strikes target regime facilities. Baghestani explains, “Every time Israel strikes, it increases the people’s happiness while they’re concerned about the nation and land. Yet, they’re tired of this regime, and they become hopeful for its defeat.”

Pray that people find lasting peace in Christ, who never changes.

3. Daily life is becoming more difficult.
Casualties are rising, and vital resources like food, gas, and electricity are increasingly scarce. “The leaders are either fleeing or emptying their accounts, and they have no thought for the liberation of the people or their lives,” she adds.

Pray that communities will support one another and rebuild quickly with compassion and resilience.

4. This is a defining moment for the Church.
“Time is right for the church to both support the people and proclaim the message of salvation.” Baghestani adds, “The church should empathize with the oppressed, support the refugees, and stand against injustice — inviting people to pray for their enemies, not just for military victory.”

Don’t forget the Iranian believers who are navigating both the turmoil of war and the call of the Great Commission. Stand with them — in prayer and in action.

Find your place in the story! Visit Heart4Iran to learn more about the spiritual needs of the Iranian people and the ways you can help. Pray that Iranian believers and evangelists will be bold, wise, and filled with love as they share the hope of the Gospel — even under the wail of air raid sirens.

Header photo courtesy of Inimafoto A via Unsplash

Nazanin Baghestani with Heart4Iran offers a glimpse of the persecuted church in Iran: “The church in Iran is a praying Church. Their number one gift that God has given them is prayer.”

“The church is really thriving, they are strong and they’re preaching the gospel with boldness. Iran is the fast[est] moving underground church in the world.”

Both Christian and Muslim Iranians reach out to Heart4Iran’s call center daily. They are always asking for prayer. Baghestani explains that culturally, Persians believe deeply in prayer.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“They (Muslims) believe that Jesus is a great prophet, [that he] answers prayer, and does miracles. But once they get to know the Lord, that’s when they become prayer warriors,” she says.

That close relationship with God is greatly needed. Iran is ranked number 9 on the World Watch List from Open Doors. Baghestani explains that traditional Christian minorities, such as Armenians or Syrians, are mostly left alone by the government — unless they share the gospel. 

“We do have Armenian pastor who is in prison right now because he evangelized to Muslims. That’s the danger. But praise the Lord, as I said, people are bold and courageous by the power of the Holy Spirit, and they do evangelize, and many come to Christ,” she says. “But if a Muslim becomes Christian, that’s totally a different story.” 

Christians who were once Muslims may face interrogation, imprisonment, and devastating rejection by their families. Forced marriages are also a terrible reality for some. (More on that here.)

Would you pray for the praying Church? 

“We can join in and intercede for them, for their protection and for their needs,” Baghestani says. “It’s hard to get Bible inside the country and distribute it. Pray for all kinds of means that God will [use to] open doors [so] that we can distribute Bibles.”

Learn more about Heart4Iran’s multifaceted ministry here.

Header photo courtesy of Heart4Iran.

(Graphic courtesy of Heart4Iran)

Nazanin Baghestani with Heart4Iran shares what their team is hearing from Iranians today.

“They are actually hopeful and happy for the strike (from Israel). They are looking to see more strikes. People are so tired of this current regime that they’re looking at any political person, country, anything that will destroy this regime and set the people free,” she says. 

Crippling inflation is making daily life extremely difficult for Iranians. Baghestani says Heart4Iran has seen a 35% increase in the number of first-time callers to their 24/7 call center this month. The ministry reaches Iranians through social media, satellite TV and other channels. 

“Once people have nowhere to go, they are going to call us for help and prayer. Iranians really believe in prayer,” Baghestani says. 

She says Iranians are in bondage under their government and are hungry for freedom, but they aren’t looking in the right places. 

“We explain to them what is the true freedom, that we are actually free — that’s only found in Jesus Christ,” Baghestani says.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“People are worried. They’re anxious, they’re restless. But once they call us, we tell them that ‘You need to rest in the Lord. You need to give all your worries to Him, because He will give you peace.’ That’s a main message.”

Pray for Heart4Iran to have many of these Spirit-led conversations that bring more Iranians to know hope and peace in Christ. 

“The current situation is really hard for the people inside the country. My team and the counseling center, we are always praying for them.”

She also asks for prayer for Iran’s leaders to be freed from hatred.

“It’s been 40-plus years that they have been in power. All they talk about is ‘death to [the U.S.]’ and ‘death to Israel.’ That’s what they want to carry out, even if they have to lose their power, lose the country, sacrifice all the people in the country. They don’t care,” says Baghestani. 

“I would pray that the Lord will stop them miraculously. [That He would] give them wisdom, give them compassion for the people of the country, because [today] there is no compassion.”

Header photo courtesy of Heart4Iran. 

The U.S. confirmed Israel’s drone strike against an Iranian air base on Friday morning, while Iranian media downplayed damages and cited “infiltrators” instead of Israel as the primary instigators.

This weekend’s attack follows Iran’s first-ever direct assault on Israel on Saturday, April 13. The following day, senior U.S. officials said it was apparent Iran’s attack on Israel intended to cause significant damage and death.

The latest tiff between sworn enemies Iran and Israel began earlier this month when a targeted Israeli strike killed senior military leaders at an Iranian embassy in Syria.

Meanwhile, analysts wonder if Iran’s economy can hold up to a prolonged battle, citing pressure imposed by Western sanctions and sky-high inflation.

“On social media, people are complaining about prices skyrocketing,” Heart4Iran’s Nazanin Baghestani says.

“Since Friday (April 12), everything has doubled and tripled [in price.] Basic groceries, such as eggs, they (Iranian people) cannot buy [because] it’s so expensive.”

Fear and anxiety constantly plague Iran’s people, fueled by government oppression and deceit.

“They (Iranian officials) are making the people afraid and quiet by arresting them, harassing them,” Baghestani says. As a result, “People are on edge 24/7, and they’re scared. The spirit of fear is so bad it just doesn’t let them function,” she continues.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“Once that (fear) is gone, they can breathe, and it’s very important for us to disciple them and make sure they are strong to withstand all the storms they face inside the country.”

Heart4Iran connects Iranians with the hope of Christ through a 24-7 call center and social media. More about that here.

“Praise God; the message of Christ is always hopeful and peaceful. The goal of the Gospel is peace, and we introduce them to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ,” Baghestani says.

Please pray that the current tensions between Iran and Israel will not escalate into regional war. Ask the Lord to show mercy on the Iranian people.

“Only God can intervene [to stop the war,] no politician. Let’s pray that God will intervene and this war will stop, this regime will give in and free the people,” Baghestani says.

Header image depicts 10,000 Iranian rials, which are equivalent to .24 USD, as of April 19, 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)

Iran’s assault on Saturday was the first time the Islamic Republic directly attacked Israel since the regime’s formation in 1979. According to an Israeli military spokesman, nearly all of the missiles and drones were intercepted.

“Iran attacked Israel [with] full force, about 300 missiles, intending for a mass casualty. Fortunately, that did not happen, but this was the first time they fired from inside Iran,” Heart4Iran’s Nazanin Baghestani says.

“They were [previously] using the neighbors and using Hezbollah (to attack Israel), but for this one, they wanted to show that ‘We can do it.’”

Although Israel defended itself against Iran’s assault with help from Western and Arab allies, “on the local news inside the country, they were saying that the attack was very successful,” Baghestani says.

“[Officials said,] ‘We intended to harm Israel and America, and we have succeeded,’ so, all positive.”

The U.S. and other Western nations say they will not back Israel if it escalates the conflict by retaliation. According to Reuters, Israel’s war cabinet “favored retaliation but was divided over the timing and scale of any such response.”

(Photo courtesy of Denis Oliveira/Heart4Iran)

Meanwhile, Iran’s people are fighting a new battle against the regime. Knowing the people oppose their leadership, “the government kept people busy so they could do their attack” on Israel, Baghestani says.

“Morality police [were] arresting women that had bad (‘improper’) hijabs. They would take these ladies to unknown places. This happened on Friday, and on Saturday, [Iran launched] all the missile attacks.”

Heart4Iran offers the hope of Christ to anxious and fearful Iranians through a 24-7 call center and social media. More about that here.

“The spirit of fear is so bad, and it just doesn’t let them function inside the country. Once that is gone, they can breathe,” Baghestani says.

“It’s very important for us to continue with them, to disciple them, and make sure that they are strong enough to withstand all the storms they face inside the country.”

Help Heart4Iran keep this important work going. Pray the current tensions between Iran and Israel will not escalate into regional war.

Header image is a representative photo courtesy of Angelo Scarcella/Pixabay.

At first, “the Iranian government [was] blaming America, CIA, Mossad, and Israel, but people within the country say it’s the regime who did this,” says Heart4Iran’s Nazanin Baghestani.

“A few days earlier [before the explosions,] Ayatollah Khamenei said that he is speaking from God, and he says the blood of the martyrs is feeding the regime to stay put (in power).”

The explosions impacted anniversary gatherings at the tomb of military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the U.S. on January 3, 2020.

Iranian General Qaseem Soleimani
(Wikimedia Commons)

Initially, a senior adviser to Iran’s President blamed Israel and the U.S. for the double blast, while the U.S. suspected the Islamic State. Iran’s explosions came a day after an Israeli strike killed a senior Hamas leader in Lebanon.

Iranians say the two events are connected. “This is all about revenge; you know, taking revenge,” Baghestani says.

“The regime always uses innocent people; it’s nothing new. They always use innocent, local people to blame things on an outsider.”

The January 3 explosions threaten to escalate tensions in the Middle East, a region already on edge due to the Israel-Hamas war.

Calls to Heart4Iran’s 24-7 ministry line reflect nationwide anxiety. “They cannot afford to buy basic [items] because of inflation [or] having no job, all the turmoil that’s going on inside [Iran.] They’re already stressed with financial situations, and on top of that, thinking about the war scares them,” Baghestani says.

“They always want prayer for peace. That’s mostly what our calls are. When they ask for prayer, we say, ‘Do you know the source of peace?’ We always preach the Gospel; we always tell them the Good News,” she continues.

“Praise God, so many believe in Christ because there is no other hope.”

Only Jesus offers hope that can override today’s calamity. Pray that Iranian callers will surrender their hearts to Christ and find peace that surpasses understanding.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Engin Akyurt/Pexels.