Inextinguishable hope in Iran

Thank you for praying for our family in Iran amidst conflict and uncertainty. As suffering remains, even as a deal between the US and Iran draws close, believers continue to hold unswervingly to their hope in Jesus. Please use this update – which includes news about specific individuals – to further guide your prayers, which remain urgently needed.

Written by Bahar*, an Iranian Christian living outside the country

Whilst the preliminary agreement between Iran and the United States marks a significant and hugely welcome step towards ending conflict, it brings a new wave of anxiety for those inside Iran.  

As external pressures ease, there are concerns that the Iranian regime may refocus its efforts on strengthening internal control and domestic repression, particularly against religious minorities and Christian converts.  

However, amidst widespread despair, Christians remain rooted in their faith, believing that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5).  

Hope amidst heaviness 

“I send you these words with a heart full of sorrow and tears,” shares Negar*, a Christian in Iran. “After the war, it seems as if something has collapsed deep within society. The atmosphere of the city and its people has become more insecure and feels heavier than ever. Most people no longer have hope for tomorrow. The silences have deepened, and behind many smiles lie hidden anger and wounds; anger that no one dares to express, yet it ripples through their looks and behaviour. 

“We, the children of the living God, have not yet given up hope. Not because things are good, nor because the pain has subsided, but because we have learned that our hope does not come from this earth and therefore cannot be destroyed by war, fear or human failure. Although a heavy sadness has settled in our hearts, and some nights it becomes difficult to breathe, it is precisely in this darkness that we experience the light of God more deeply.” 

“A real need for prayer” 

Farhad* has experienced this, too, in his work as a ministry partner serving young people in Iran through online discipleship and mentoring.  

“I spoke with a few young people,” he shares. “I was so encouraged because I saw again how much of this is God’s grace. In the absence of internet, in the absence of church gatherings, the light of Christ is still shining.” 

One young believer particularly stood out. Over the years, he had participated in discipleship and training programmes, and had grown significantly in his faith. Yet during the long months of disconnection, he too struggled. Communication became impossible, messages went unanswered, weeks turned into months.  

When contact was finally restored, the young man discovered that Farhad and others had continued trying to reach him and had not stopped praying for him. “He told me, ‘I didn’t receive your messages.’ Then when he realised we had been thinking of him, the joy in his eyes was unforgettable for me.” 

Farhad adds that while Christians have the hope of Christ to hold on to, many others across the country are searching for answers. “People are not doing fine. They are still longing for a change, disillusioned with many of the things they once believed,” he says. “Some conclude there is no God. Others believe there must be something more. But many are searching. They try to keep the hope alive.” 

For this reason, he believes that this is a significant moment for prayer. “There is a real need for prayer. People are looking for truth.” 

Prayer and praise for individual situations 

There is also a real need to pray for individual Christians as they face some particularly pressing challenges.  

This includes Sam Khosravi and Maryam Falahi. Years after adopting their daughter, Lydia, an Iranian court ruled that, because Lydia is considered Muslim by the state and her parents are Christian converts, their custody must be annulled. Fearing for her welfare, the family fled to Türkiye. 

However, their anxieties have been revived recently. During a recent interview, Turkish immigration officials insisted the family must annul the Iranian court’s Sharia-based ruling – a task that is legally impossible as Turkish courts have no jurisdiction over Iranian court decisions. The family now faces the terrifying threat of Lydia being removed from their home by Turkish social welfare, potentially leaving her without a family once again. 

Please also continue to pray for three women –  Bahar Sahraian, Mary Mohammadi and Ghazal Marzban – who are suffering in prison having been silenced by the regime. You can read more about their situations here. 

However, there is some good news to report with the recent release of converts Ahmad Sarparast and Ayoob Poor-Rezazadeh, after serving five-year sentences. It’s a testament to God’s faithfulness and a further reminder that He is answering prayers and moving even in the shadows. 

Joy, peace and hope 

Returning to Negar, she draws comfort from the words of the Christian martyr, Haik Hovsepian. “He had said that joy can be present even on the bed of illness and death. Now I understand that true joy is not the absence of pain or the forgetting of it, but rather the peace that flows from the presence of God amidst suffering. 

“We trust that His time will come, when He will raise His banner over the earth. We may be tired, wounded and sorrowful, but we have not been extinguished. He has kept our lamp of hope burning.” 

*Names changed for security reasons