Major Military Offensive Launched

The United States and Israel have launched sweeping coordinated air and missile strikes against strategic targets in Iran under Operation Epic Fury, significantly expanding Middle East conflict. The strikes hit Iranian military infrastructure, including missile sites and command centers. (President Trump later confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial strikes.) Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region, targeting Israel and U.S. military positions in several countries.

This situation is evolving; updates will be added as they become available.

Today’s developments were examined in real time by a panel of experts, including CBN Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Mitchell, CBN Senior White House Correspondent Kelly Wright, CBN War Correspondent Chuck Holton, and Lana Silk, President & CEO of Transform Iran, who provided expert insider analysis.

U.S. and Israel Coordinate ‘Operation Epic Fury’

In an overnight address, President Donald Trump framed the strikes as necessary to neutralize what the White House characterized as “imminent threats” from the Iranian regime’s missile and nuclear advancements.

“We will dismantle capabilities that threaten America and our allies,” Trump stated.

Iran’s leadership is responsible for brutalizing its own people and destabilizing the region for decades.

White House officials said that Congressional leadership was briefed on the operation prior to execution.

Iran’s Retaliation Across Middle East

According to military reporting and civilian accounts, Iran’s counterattacks extended far beyond Israel’s borders:

• Saudi Arabia and Jordan intercepted ballistic missiles.
• Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq reported missile defense activations.
• Many missiles were shot down before impact.

“We have counted strikes directed at Israel, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — this is not isolated warfare but a regional conflict,” stated Chris Mitchell, CBN Middle East Bureau Chief.

Despite significant retaliation, confirmed foreign military and civilian casualties remain relatively low.

No Intervention from Russia or China

Although both Russia and China issued strong condemnations of the strikes, analysts on the panel agreed neither is expected to enter the conflict directly: “Both nations are speaking diplomatically, but militarily they are not stepping in. Russia remains occupied with Ukraine and China is watching closely without direct engagement.”

Washington’s Strategic Rationale

Senior White House Correspondent Kelly Wright outlined the Trump administration’s reasoning: “Protecting America abroad is consistent with securing America at home. This is not isolationism — this is strategic defense.”

The President’s message emphasized that military action was a last resort after extended diplomatic efforts and repeated Iranian refusal to curb nuclear and missile programs.

Inside Iran: Growing Opposition

Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, reported public sentiment from inside Iran: “The Iranian people have welcomed intervention. After years of repression — torture, killings, arrests — many feel abandoned by their own government and see this as necessary and overdue.”

She emphasized that emotional attitudes inside Iran are now more than ideological:

This has become deeply personal. Tens of thousands have been traumatized or killed. People are angry, not just desiring reform — they are demanding it.

Military and Security Fractures

Silk described signs of internal dissent within Iran’s security apparatus: “Some IRGC agents have refused immoral orders. That kind of moral courage could open the door to defections deeper in the regime.”

She also warned that the Iranian government has historically shown an open willingness to harm or even destroy its own people for the sake of preserving and expanding its ideologies.

Prospects for Regime Transition

Panelists discussed potential futures for Iran, noting significant uncertainty:

• Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, has outlined a transitional governance plan leading to national referendum.
• Some Iranians (including diaspora communities) express support for his leadership as an interim figure.
• Ethnic minority opposition factions (e.g., Kurdish groups) present alternate visions for change.

Lana shared insider reports:

The Iranian people don’t necessarily want a monarchy, but the sentiment is behind what Pahlavi has been promising, which is a transitionary government that will lead to a referendum that will allow the people of Iran to choose their own future.

Geopolitical Stakes

A post‑conflict Iran could alter the strategic landscape of the entire Middle East:

• Potential re‑entry into diplomatic frameworks
• New trade relationships with Western nations
• Possible integration with regional peace dynamics

However, analysts caution that meaningful post‑conflict stability would require complex diplomatic negotiation and reconstruction efforts.

Broader U.S. Political Context

The U.S. domestic response is polarized, with some conservative commentators suggesting foreign intervention conflicts with “America First” principles. The Trump administration maintains that defending American interests and supporting allied nations is integral to national security.

Hope Beyond the Conflict: The Gospel Advancing in Iran

Lana highlighted a profound source of hope amid the turmoil: the gospel is already growing very rapidly inside Iran, even in one of the most hostile spiritual and political environments in the world. Despite persecution, underground house churches continue to multiply, and many Iranians are seeking faith with unusual openness.

Iran’s calling is to be a country that blesses the nations and the people of God. We only need to look to our own Old Testament to see how Persian leaders protected and provided for the people of God. Of course, we know Cyrus even paid for the rebuilding of the temple.

An Iran restored and open to the gospel, she said, could become a country that blesses the nations beyond its borders — including Israel and the wider Middle East.

Read about Iran in the Bible

Strategic Prayer Points – Iran Crisis

1. Protection and Safety

• Pray for the protection of civilians in Iran, Israel, and neighboring nations.
• Pray for military personnel and aid workers to be kept safe from harm.

2. Wisdom and Guidance for Leaders

• Pray for global and regional leaders to have divine wisdom in decision-making.
• Pray for leaders at all levels in Iran to repent, choose unity, and consider the people’s welfare.

3. Comfort for the Grieving and Traumatized

• Pray for those who lost loved ones, were injured, or tortured during protests and conflict.
• Pray for healing, peace, and emotional restoration for all affected.

4. Spiritual Renewal and Gospel Impact

• Pray for the gospel to continue growing rapidly inside Iran, despite persecution.
• Pray for dreams, visions, and divine encounters that turn hearts toward God.
• Pray for Iran to fulfill its biblical calling to bless the nations.

5. Refugees and Displaced People

• Pray for safe passage, provision, and protection for Iranian refugees in Armenia and surrounding countries.
• Pray for opportunities for them to encounter God’s love and guidance.

6. Peace, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness

• Pray for unity and reconciliation among Iranian citizens and between nations.
• Pray for hearts to forgive and work toward lasting peace, even in the midst of conflict.

For background on the prior nationwide unrest that helped set the stage, see our Updates from Inside Iran (protests erupted in late December 2025 in response to economic collapse and human rights abuses, then spread nationwide amid severe repression and internet shutdowns).

Above panel discussion originally published on: CBN News