[Today’s Prayer] Iran: “3,375 war victims confirmed… many children and foreigners among them”

Iranian authorities announced on the 12th (local time) that at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran due to the war with the United States and Israel.

According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Abbas Masjedi, head of Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization, stated, “We have completed scientific and professional identification and verification procedures for the 3,375 bodies recovered from the recent war.”

According to the announcement, of the total victims, 2,875 were men and 496 were women. Notably, casualties among minors were significant: 262 children aged 12 and under (7.7%), including 7 infants under one year old, and 121 teenagers aged 13–18 (3.6%) were among the victims. Among the child fatalities were 120 elementary school girls from Minaab in Hormozgan Province who were killed on the first day of the war due to a U.S. military misstrike.

By age group, those between 19 and 40—the most economically active population—accounted for the largest portion with 1,761 people (52.2%). Those aged 41–60 numbered 906 (26.9%), while 223 victims (6.6%) were aged 61 or older.

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Masjedi added, “Through professional forensic methods, we have clearly identified all victims. We will honor them with the utmost respect.”

Source: Yonhap News

“God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4–5)

God, we hear the heartbreaking news that at least 3,000 people have died in Iran due to the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, and that around 10% of them are minors.

Earlier this year, Iran already suffered great sorrow as many were injured and killed during internal protests, and now through this war, the people of Iran are once again experiencing immense suffering. Lord, please have mercy on the souls in Iran.

Jesus, the mediator between God and humanity! Please be present in every household in Iran. As many young and middle-aged adults—the primary providers of their families—have died in this war, comfort the Iranian people who grieve and worry about how they will sustain their livelihoods, and please care for the families of the deceased.

In this situation where the most vulnerable—children—are being killed, may the Iranian church rise up with the gospel of Yeshua, who commanded us to serve the least, and serve families who have lost their loved ones and children. Through Jesus, who has overcome death, may all the people of Iran receive salvation and come to know the truth. May the eternal kingdom of God be proclaimed to the Iranian people through the Iranian church.

Even when there seems to be no hope in life, may the people of Iran live with hope in the kingdom of God that will be ruled by the returning Jesus. And may they rise as a people who proclaim the kingdom of God to all nations, following Jesus, the mediator.