Iran’s political stance defiant, but a divided narrative within: Mission Network News

By Katie O’Malley

Iran (MNN) — Israel has promised a strong response to Iran’s direct missile attack. On Tuesday night, around 180 ballistic missiles rained down on Israeli cities. Most were intercepted by Israel’s multilayered air defense systems, but some rockets got through and caused unspecified damage and at least one death. 

Meanwhile, Iran says if Israel responds with force, it will attack again.

Lana Silk serves with Transform Iran, which spreads gospel hope to Iranians through media. (More on that here.) 

“I’m not really sure that either Iran or Israel wanted this kind of war at the beginning. Iran was very comfortable running a war by proxy for a long time, because it kept Iran out of the picture. My impression is, almost reluctantly each side has had to up their game to show a sign of strength,” Silk says.  

“As each side has taken a slightly stronger stance to preserve that rhetoric, now they’re ending up in a situation. I mean, what’s Israel going to do? Israel has to respond. You can’t just sit there and take this kind of firepower and not do anything about it. So I think it’s going to have to escalate.”

Iran today: divided

Despite the political stance Iran is projecting, there’s a divided narrative within the nation. While there were televised celebrations on the streets this week, others mourned the step toward full-blown war.

Silk explains, “The people of Iran don’t hate the people of Israel, and they do not want this war. They are oppressed by their own regime. They want out of the chokehold that they find themselves in, and if that means a war, what I’m hearing from Iran is, ‘Bring it.’

[It’s as if they are saying,] ‘Whatever it takes to weaken and dismantle our regime, we will take it because our lives are so difficult as they are today.

First response: prayer

Christians need to look beyond politics and judgments, and pray earnestly over the Middle East.

Silk says, “There are a lot of political statements going around, a lot of blame being cast: who deserves what? What should be done? And I’m looking at it thinking there are people there today, everyday people who are just trying to get on with their lives in both countries, who are getting caught up in this huge conflict. That breaks my heart, and I think it breaks the Lord’s heart.” 

Pray for God’s will. Ask Him for a swift end to fighting. Pray for the salvation of people in Iran and in Israel now one step closer to an unwanted war. 

”Our prayers are powerful. They are effective, and they’re active. So let’s do what we can. That’s the start,” Silk says. 

Header photo: Some Iranians celebrate after Iran’s October 1, 2024 missile attack on Israel (Photo courtesy of Maryam Davarnia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Other images courtesy of Transform Iran.

Originally posted on: Mission Network News