[Today’s Prayer] “Youth, gather in front of power plants”… Iran forms ‘human shields’ as airstrike nears

As the time for a U.S. airstrike on Iran, previously announced by President Donald Trump, approaches, Iran on the 7th (local time) urged teenagers and young people to gather near power plants.

According to CNN, Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Alireza Rahimi, said on social media platform X that day, “We invite all youth, figures from culture and the arts, athletes, and champions to the national campaign ‘Iranian Youth Human Chain for a Bright Tomorrow.’”

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The campaign mentioned by Minister Rahimi is interpreted as an attempt to place young people in front of energy infrastructure facilities in order to deter potential U.S. airstrikes.

On the 5th, President Trump posted on Truth Social that if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, the U.S. would destroy infrastructure such as energy facilities and bridges, setting a deadline of 8:00 PM Eastern Time on the 7th (9:00 AM on the 8th in Korea). In Iran, this corresponds to 3:30 AM on the 8th.

Source: News1

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores His people from captivity, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. (Psalm 14:7)

God, as the time for the U.S.-announced airstrike on Iran draws near, we hear that Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth is urging all Iranian youth and teenagers to gather near power plants, promoting a national campaign to form a human chain with them in order to block U.S. airstrikes on energy facilities.

As both sides fail to narrow their differences over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and an immediate ceasefire, and as the United States has issued a final ultimatum to Iran, we see that with less than a full day remaining before the deadline for agreement, the level of pressure is reaching its peak.

In such a situation, we ask that those carrying out the Iranian regime’s actions—who are using young people as innocent sacrifices under the name of a campaign to protect their own peace and safety—would repent of their sins, and that the regime’s cruel strategies and methods would quickly come to an end, leading instead to reconciliation through the true way of peace found in Jesus Christ.

God, who rules over the world and governs history, please lead all situations according to Your good and perfect will. At this time, grant true joy and peace to the hearts of Iranian youth who have become captives to death, so that they may rejoice only in Your salvation, be glad, and boldly proclaim the victory of the cross.

Even in circumstances rushing toward extremes, let the Iranian church stand firm as a church that overcomes the power of death by continuing to proclaim the gospel of peace to the end. Let the global church join together in earnest prayer and serve the people of Iran with the love of the Lord Jesus and the gospel.

And so, let Iran become a nation that greatly rejoices only in the salvation of Jesus Christ and proclaims the cross to all nations.