Iran News – Israel Airstrikes on Tehran: CBN News

Surprising Public Reaction – and a Sobering Aftermath

June 13, 2025 – In the early hours of the morning, at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time, Israel launched targeted airstrikes on key sites in Tehran, striking high-value military and intelligence assets. These Israel airstrikes on Iran mark a dramatic escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict, drawing global scrutiny and fueling debate over the future of the region.

In exclusive interviews with CBN News, Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, shared firsthand insight into the public reaction in Iran. She described a “quiet relief” among many Iranians – despite the danger and destruction – reflecting decades of trauma, frustration, and longing for freedom under the Islamic regime.

But that relief is not uncomplicated. Just days later, many are grappling with food, gas, and water shortages, disrupted power, and evacuation orders, as the true cost of conflict sets in.

Silk told CBN News reporter Lorie Johnson on the morning of the first attack on Iran:

I’ve spoken to many friends and colleagues inside the country this morning. People are waking up to what they are calling ‘good news.’ Videos are surfacing of residents raising glasses in symbolic celebration, even with buildings burning behind them.

Why Such a Response?

This surprising immediate public reaction to the Tehran airstrikes reveals a complex reality: while the regime maintains a public posture of strength and defiance, ordinary Iranians appear to view the Israel Iran conflict through a different lens – one of hope for change.

Silk explained:

The people of Iran have long felt trapped under a repressive regime. Many believe this might be the only way real change could come. They’ve tried to rise up before, but those efforts have been crushed. Now, they’re asking if this could finally be the beginning of freedom.

Silk adds that trauma runs deep: each citizen lives under constant surveillance, including phone and internet monitoring. Even children lead double lives, forced to recite state-mandated Islamic prayers at school while hiding Christian beliefs at home.

“This is not passive acceptance, it’s trauma-informed desperation,” she says.

Read more about the challenges that the children of Iran face today

A Challenging Aftermath

Now, what began as symbolic toasts and celebrations has given way to ration lines, blackout warnings, and deep-seated anxiety, a sober reminder that external strikes bring real human consequences.

There is definitely a price to be paid, but many believe it’s worth it for what they hope is coming next.

Iranian Regime Projects Defiance

While the public mood among many citizens is cautiously hopeful, the Iranian regime is responding with strong messaging and visible action. Leaders are urging citizens to prepare for war, with chaos reported at gas stations as people rush to fill tanks and stock up on supplies.

“The regime is doing everything it can to project strength,” Silk said on the first day of the attacks. “They sent drones to Israel almost immediately – a symbolic act they knew wouldn’t do much damage. But the goal was to save face, not necessarily retaliate meaningfully.”

What Happens If the Regime Falls?

Calls for a ‘post-Islamic Iran’ are gaining momentum, with voices like Reza Pahlavi’s mobilizing politically.

In her conversation with CBN’s Billy Hallowell, Silk warns against naivety: “If freedom comes too fast, we risk a vacuum – and history shows those vacuums get filled – sometimes by worse regimes or false ideologies.” That is why Transform Iran is proactively preparing; training leaders, creating resources, and expanding underground networks ahead of political change.

Church in Iran: A Light in the Darkness

As fear and uncertainty grip the region, the underground church in Iran is quietly preparing to respond with hope.

The Church has been praying for a change for a long time. Now they’re preparing to be a light and a source of hope in what could be a very dark and restless time.

She emphasized that Iranian Christians are not passive observers. They’re bracing for real challenges while also sensing that God may be opening a door for deeper transformation. “There’s fear, yes, but also this sense that maybe something truly is shifting,” she said.

Resilient Faith Under Fire

When asked how the Church in Iran has become so strong despite persecution, Silk pointed to the refining effect of suffering:

When your faith is illegal, you don’t take it lightly. You fight for it. You strip away everything that doesn’t matter, and what remains is a church that’s bold, resilient, and completely dependent on God.

She concluded with gratitude: “Praise God for His mercy. In the midst of oppression, believers are standing for what’s right, sharing their faith, and watching others turn to Jesus.”

Digital Church: A National Lifeline

Transform Iran’s digital church already reaches millions of people, with 20,000–25,000 active monthly participants in Bible studies, virtual prayer groups, and discipleship programs.

As restrictions potentially ease, that digital network could become a providential bridge for uniting believers, helping to stabilize a potentially fragile transition by linking new believers, scattered house churches, and local leaders across the country into one unified Gospel movement.

Read more about Transform Iran’s digital church

Pray for Iran

As this moment in the Middle East conflict unfolds, the Iranian Church is rising with courage and compassion. They are preparing to be a refuge, a voice of peace, and a testimony to the power of the Gospel.

How to Pray:

• Wisdom for leaders in both Israel and Iran
• Protection over civilians, especially displaced families and children
• Preparedness and provision: to enable the Church to step up their resources, care, and guidance
• Spiritual awakening: that faith (and not false ideologies) would anchor a post-regime future

Silk emphasises:

We’re looking to the other side of this – we want change – but true, lasting transformation.

#IranNews #MiddleEastConflict #IsraelNews #UndergroundChurch #HopeForIran #TransformIran

Originally published on: CBN News (Lorie Johnson interview) and CBN News (Billy Hallowell interview)