Why did Iran directly attack Israel for the first time in its history? With support for Israel wavering from its allies, wouldn’t a direct attack from Iran re-bolster the world’s support for Israel? How was a direct attack in Iran’s best interest?

Escalating conflict abroad

Tehran, Iran (Photo courtesy of Khashayar Kouchpeydeh/Unsplash)

Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, says, “Iran is in a difficult situation because, as you say, they can’t be seen to have ‘all bark and no bite.’ So they can’t just keep throwing all these threats out there and not following through.”

The lead-up to Iran’s attack has been a tit-for-tat process of escalation. Prior to October 7, Israel had a ceasefire with Hamas and was preparing to sign a peace deal with the Sunni government of Saudi Arabia. Then on October 7, Iran provided support for the terror attack by Hamas that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took around 240 hostage.

Iran has continued to add fuel to the fire of war in the Holy Land through its Shia proxies in Yemen and Lebanon. Israel sent a message to Iran by striking the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1st, killing two Iranian generals and five officers.

Following the Iranian consulate strike, Tehran vowed to retaliate — which led to Iran sending hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, most of which were shot down. Now, Israel says they cannot let a direct attack like this from Iran go unpunished.

Escalating conflict at home

Meanwhile, all is not well at home in Iran.

First, an ongoing power struggle between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the ayatollahs makes for uncomfortable bedmates when they have to turn and deal with wars abroad.

“That’s certainly what the atmosphere is in Iran today — that maybe there’s some infighting going on. And, of course, that has other implications,” Silk says.

(Photo courtesy of Transform Iran)

Then there’s the Iranian people, the majority of whom feel disenfranchised by their own government and are struggling to make ends meet.

Tehran received significant criticism for entering 2024 without an official budget or fiscal plan. This year also marks the end of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s first term in office.

“Economically, it’s a very difficult climate. There’s already been a lot of uncertainty now with this ‘budget, no budget’ question. I mean, they’re having to throw something together. They’re not committing the right money to the right places. They’re spending money in war.

“So the people of Iran continue to pay. They’re struggling for jobs. They’re struggling for affordable housing and food. Poverty is high. The people are not being looked after and they’re stuck.

“They feel completely trapped in the world that they live in right now. As far as they’re concerned, they are forgotten by the West because all the West sees is their regime with all the negative things at play that the regime is involved in. So then the West must hate us.”

Silk says there are many in Iran who are not pleased with their government’s actions on the global stage. Many are even questioning the validity of Islam itself, although it is incredibly dangerous to do so in Iran where Islam is the state religion.

Seeking Truth

These silent doubters are seeking spiritual truth. This is where Transform Iran’s ministry steps in with the transcending hope and truth of the Gospel.

Transform Iran is passionate about leadership development. The Church in Iran is growing fast.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Transform Iran)

Transform Iran uses television, radio, and social media to reach Iranians with the Good News about Jesus. No matter the circumstances, Christ offers comfort and hope. The people of Iran need to know.

“The best thing that we can do for the people of Iran today is to let them know that we see them, and we care!” says Silk.

“It would be so helpful for us all to be using the power of social media to be talking about the people of Iran, sharing posts that highlight the needs of the people of Iran, let them know that they are seen, that we love them, we care for them.

“Let’s be praying. Let’s be fueling what God is doing. Let’s be inviting the Holy Spirit to be visiting people in their dreams, in their doorways, in visions…. That is a powerful thing that we can be doing. If we do that, then we will have helped the people of Iran.”

Learn more about Transform Iran’s ministry here.

Header photo courtesy of Steven Su/Unsplash.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed to punish Israel for last week’s attack in Syria, which killed two top Revolutionary Guard commanders.

Transform Iran’s Lana Silk says, “I don’t see that it’s really in Iran’s interest right now to be engaging Israel in all-out war. Because if Israel and Iran get into a direct fight now, then naturally, the world is going to support Israel.”

Israel is becoming isolated in global politics because of recent events in Gaza, she continues.

“Iran would find it in their interest to allow that situation to play out rather than find Israel rallying the troops and everyone coming together with Iran as a common enemy,” Silk says.

In a Wednesday sermon, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed to punish Israel for last week’s attack in Syria, which killed two top Revolutionary Guard commanders.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Iran already faces a crumbling economy and division within its ranks.

“The ayatollahs created the Revolutionary Guard, but now the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has become a threat, potentially, to the ayatollahs; maybe even more than Israel or America,” Silk says.

“There is a rumor circulating in Iran today that it’s the ayatollahs or their cronies that have been giving up intelligence for the locations of some of these high-ranking Revolutionary Guard generals to slightly weaken that organization.”

We can’t fix Iran, but we know the God who holds this country in His hands. Let’s ask Him to have mercy on the Iranian people.

“We must be praying. Our prayers are powerful; the Word of God tells us that,” Silk says.

“Let’s be constantly thinking, ‘Lord, I want to see the people of Iran saved, I want them to find hope in You.’”

Stay up-to-date on what God is doing in Iran by signing up for Transform Iran’s monthly newsletter here.

Header image depicts ominous shadows over Iran’s capital city, Tehran. (Photo courtesy of Amir Housseini/Unsplash)

“They have this huge Revolutionary Guard hacker community taking down Christian sites and checking on people who might be Christian,” Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries says.

Regime hackers met their match earlier this month. However, the challenge did not come from Iranian Christians.

“Somehow, another Islamic organization has hacked their (Revolutionary Guard) websites and defamed them online,” Godwin says.

Hacking groups have increasingly targeted government agencies since protests began last fall. This month’s breach released hundreds of documents and disabled over 200 sites.

Clever internet navigation also allows IMM to bring messages of hope to Iran – the country formerly known as Persia. “We are working towards telling the story of Esther coming to the palace in Persia thousands of years ago,” Godwin says.

Noting the Crown Prince of Iran’s recent visit to Israel, “We feel a sense of urgency at International Media Ministries to be standing alongside [Iranians], helping tell some biblical stories that point back to a time when God used Persia to set Israel free from Babylon,” she adds.

(Graphic courtesy of IMM)

“It’s an important time to pray for Iran.”

Pray for wisdom as IMM finishes work on the Esther project. Pray that its messages will be relevant and compelling to people inside Iran.

Learn more about IMM’s work and find ways to help here.

“Pray for the Body of Christ under persecution in Iran, that God would give them strength and miraculously protect them. You hear amazing stories of people who get let go or have a way to get out,” Godwin says.

Header image courtesy of International Media Ministries.