[Today’s Prayer] Over 200 Iranian Christian leaders declare support for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

More than 200 Christian leaders in Iran have declared their support for the country's last crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, who is in exile.

According to the UK's Christian Today (CT), leaders from various Christian groups and denominations in Iran issued a statement on the 27th of last month (local time), saying, "We believe that we are an inseparable part of the Iranian people," and "This country is now facing one of its most decisive moments."

Christian leaders criticized the Iranian government for failing to protect its people and causing serious harm to the country.

They also argued that “the government has lost all ‘moral, national and international legitimacy’ due to crimes committed against the Iranian people since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and a change of regime is necessary.”

Last year, after several high-ranking Iranian generals were killed in an Israeli airstrike, Pahlavi held a press conference in Paris, France, declaring, "I am ready to help lead a transitional government if the current Islamic Republic of Iran collapses." He later presented a 100-day plan for this interim administration.

The statement also mentioned King Cyrus of Persia, who appears several times in the Bible. King Cyrus freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity and ordered the rebuilding of the Temple.

“We believe that our beloved Iran can once again become a beacon of hope and freedom for its people and neighbors, as it was in the days of King Cyrus,” the statement said. “In this spirit, we are convinced that the living and true God can bring warmth and healing to wounded hearts.”

On the 28th, just a day after their statement, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, eliminating Supreme Leader Khamenei and his leadership. The military conflict surrounding Iran has since escalated tensions in the Middle East.

American Christian leaders asked for prayers for peace, saying, "We pray that this moment will be a turning point toward freedom." An Iranian Christian activist said, "We don't want war, but we don't want the current oppressive system to last forever. We pray that even if it's a painful process, it will move toward the expansion of freedom and human rights."

According to Open Doors, Iran ranks as the tenth worst country in the world for Christian persecution. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal, and even Christians who remain faithful are forced to meet in secret house churches and face the constant threat of police raids. Christians are often arrested for "national security" reasons.

Source: Christian Today

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

On the 28th, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei died in an Israeli airstrike, raising the need for regime change in Iran. Amidst this, we hear that over 200 Christian leaders in Iran have declared their support for Reza Pahlavi, the last crown prince of Iran who is currently in exile.

This marks the first regime change in 47 years since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. We see this not merely as a change of government, but as the collapse of the powerful Islamic regime that has imprisoned the souls of Iran for 47 years.

Lord, may this moment become a turning point where the Iranian souls, long oppressed under the Islamic dictatorship, gain their freedom. Furthermore, may the Spirit of Truth come and bring about a reversal of history where they encounter Jesus Christ, who grants true freedom incomparable to the world's freedom.

As the situation in Iran undergoes rapid change, may the global church pray with heightened spiritual sensitivity. Through the prayers of the global church, may true peace and shalom come to Iran, and may the unshakable kingdom of God be established.

Especially in Iran, once ranked as the world's tenth most severe persecutor of Christians, grant freedom to the many oppressed Iranian believers. May they now rise as churches worshiping the Lord with all their hearts. May the global church pray together and serve so that the Iranian church may proclaim the gospel with unshakable faith, even amid suffering and persecution.

Thus, may Iran overcome all suffering in the true freedom and peace given by Jesus Christ, bear witness to the gospel to all nations, and welcome the Lord at the ends of the earth!