When you send your Spirit, you renew the face of the earth
As crises in Iran and Syria simultaneously worsen, analysts say the Middle East is entering a period of profound turmoil. In Iran in particular, prolonged large-scale anti-government protests have raised speculation that the Islamist authoritarian regime, in power for 47 years, may be entering a genuine phase of collapse.
Protests have continued across 31 regions nationwide, from Isfahan to the capital Tehran, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Down with the regime” and “Death to the dictator.”
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that more than one million people took part in protests in Iran’s second-largest city, forcing security forces to withdraw.
In some cities, protesters have reportedly attacked police headquarters and Basij bases, the regime’s core paramilitary force responsible for suppressing dissent. Local sources suggest that the death toll may have exceeded 12,000, though the figure has not been independently verified.
The U.S. State Department, through Persian-language posts, has conveyed President Trump’s position to the Iranian public, warning that the United States could intervene if the regime carries out mass killings of protesters.
In response, Iranian authorities have imposed nationwide internet shutdowns to restrict the flow of information. However, reports indicate that additional killings by government forces have occurred during the blackout periods.
Despite the crackdown, observers say the momentum of the protests is growing rather than weakening. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has publicly called for coordinated nationwide action, openly raising the possibility of regime change.
Amid the severe repression, testimonies also report that Christianity is rapidly growing inside Iran, with an increasing spiritual hunger for the gospel.
Meanwhile, northern Syria, particularly the Aleppo region, has emerged as another focal point of instability in the Middle East. Jihadist groups linked to Syrian government forces have reportedly besieged and attacked Kurdish-populated areas, including Sharafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud, raising concerns about the possibility of ethnic cleansing targeting minority communities.
Israeli officials and local pastors have warned that these forces share the same nature as jihadist groups that previously persecuted Alawites, Druze, and Christians, noting that although they may have changed uniforms, their extremist ideology and violent methods remain unchanged. Claims have also emerged that some Islamic religious leaders are inciting violence against Kurds on religious grounds.
Local sources say key figures within the Syrian government are being forced into silence, fueling fears that without international intervention, the Kurdish population could suffer the same tragic fate as other minorities in the past.(Source: Gospel Prayer News, Edited version)
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.(Psalm 104:30-31, NIV)
God, we lift up the Middle East to You. As Iran’s people rise against dictatorship and minorities suffer attacks in Syria, please rule over this land with Your justice and peace. For so long, the people of this land have lived under heavy religious and political oppression rooted in Islam. Through the cries of the churches among the nations, we ask You to bring a revival of the gospel to this region. Send Your Spirit upon the churches, the small flock within this land, and through them do a new work, that the Middle East may be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Prayer 24·365
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