By Dr. Nathan Rostampour, Ekklesia Mission president and ICC board member

Many of my friends have asked me, “Why are some Iranians dancing while war is unfolding in their country?”

To truly understand, one would have to live under the Islamic regime in Iran.

A Personal Journey of Faith and Exile

There is so much that could be said, but one truth I know deeply — both personally and painfully — as a Christian refugee in the United States. Fifteen years ago, because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I was forced to flee my homeland of Iran. The cost of following Christ in my country was exile. Yet the United States of America received me with compassion and offered me refuge. Today, as a grateful American citizen, I thank God for this nation. I am deeply thankful to the president of the United States and to the American armed forces for standing beside the people of Iran in this critical and historic hour.

The Oppression of the Islamic Regime

For more than 47 years, the Islamic regime ruling Iran has governed through fear, oppression, and bloodshed. The hands of this regime are stained with the blood of thousands of Iranian and American citizens. It has been one of the world’s leading sponsors of terrorism, spreading violence far beyond Iran’s borders. At home, it has relentlessly persecuted Christians — executing some, imprisoning many, and forcing countless others into exile. Believers have been torn from their families, their homes, and their homeland, scattered across the world simply because they chose to follow Jesus Christ.

Why Some Iranians Celebrate

This is why, when some Iranians celebrate or dance these days, it is not because they love war. It is because they have lived for decades under a darkness that few outside the country can fully comprehend. For many Iranians, these moments carry the fragile hope that the long night of oppression may finally be nearing its end.

A Struggle for Iran, Not Against Iran

I want to say clearly to my brothers and sisters in America: as an American citizen and as an Iranian-American, neither I nor many within the Iranian church and the broader Iranian community see this conflict as a war against Iran. Rather, we see it as a struggle for Iran. In many ways, it feels like a rescue mission for more than 90 million unarmed Iranians who long for freedom, dignity, and the chance to build a future without fear.

A Call to Prayer for the Iranian Church

As an Iranian-American pastor, I humbly call upon the church in the West to lift up Iran, the Iranian people, and the underground churches inside Iran in earnest and faithful prayer. The overwhelming majority of Iranians desire to see this oppressive Islamic regime come to an end. Many hope that Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former Shah, may return to guide a transitional period toward a democratic government — after which the Iranian people themselves can freely determine the future of their nation.

The Deeper Freedom Found in Christ

But beyond political freedom, there is a deeper freedom that the people of Iran desperately need — the freedom that only Christ can give.

Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

For decades, the Iranian people have been imprisoned not only by political tyranny but also by fear, despair, and spiritual darkness. Yet even now, something remarkable is happening. Across Iran, hearts are opening to the gospel. Many Iranians are encountering Jesus Christ through dreams, through Scripture, and through the witness of courageous believers. In the midst of persecution, the church in Iran is growing.

That is why I ask believers around the world to pray especially for the church in Iran. These are sensitive and historic days. Pray that Iranian Christians will stand firm in their faith, intercede boldly for their nation, and proclaim the good news of the gospel with courage and love. The Iranian church is small, but it is faithful — and God is using it as a light in the darkness.

Hope Rising Amidst Sorrow

Today, the people of Iran carry deep wounds. Fear, uncertainty, and grief weigh heavily on many hearts. Families mourn the loss of loved ones. Cities carry the scars of decades of oppression. Yet even in the midst of sorrow, hope is rising.

They know that believers around the world are praying for them.

They know that Iranians living abroad stand beside them.

And they know that the United States — its leadership and its military — stands with them as well.

In dark hours like these, such solidarity becomes a powerful source of encouragement.

I am deeply grateful to The Summit Church and to Pastor J.D. Greear, who have repeatedly spoken about and prayed for the events unfolding in Iran. I also invite churches across America to remember the Iranian people in your gatherings. Be a voice for those who suffer. Stand with us in prayer for justice, freedom, and peace in Iran.

A Vision for Iran’s Future

Finally, I ask you to pray for those of us who are called to serve and shepherd the Iranian church. In these critical days, we need wisdom, courage, and discernment as we lead and share the good news of the gospel with millions of Iranians searching for hope.

My prayer is that one day every Iranian will discover true freedom — not merely political freedom, but the deeper freedom that is found in Jesus Christ alone. And I pray that the light of the Lord will shine brightly over Iran, that a nation long covered in darkness will one day rise in the light of the gospel.

Help bolster ICC’s Emergency Relief Fund so we can respond quickly when the opportunity arises in Iran.