Ever since President Khatami eased up media restrictions in 1997, the press has been a flashpoint between Reformers and Conservatives. Back in 1999 when the closure of the paper ‘Salam’ brought thousands of students onto the streets, it was even a battlefield. Ten years later, with eight papers being closed down since the disputed presidential election, and over sixty journalists in jail, more closures feel like a mop up operation. Last week it was the turn of the country’s most prominent Reformist newspaper, Etemaad which had a circulation of 100,000, along with two weekly magazines, Iran Dokht and Sina, the former edited by Hussein Karroubi, the son in law to the reformist presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi. There were no demonstrations. Students stayed in their classes. Similar to what has happened to Christians, some journalists spent a challenging time in prison and were then released on bail after the courts had secured a massive payment. Such intimidation usually encourages them to keep a low profile. This is what happened to five men arrested in the aftermath of the election and released this week. The bail for one of them was $800,000. According to one media watch-dog, only China now locks up more journalists than Iran. Perhaps Tehran is now looking to Beijing as a model to follow. For lovers of freedom of expression and religion this does not auger well. But Christians should also remember where the largest church on the planet is: China.

Pray for

• All journalists suffering unfairly, to have an experience of God
• Consciences of officials to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit
• Christians to keep on sharing, whatever the external situation, remembering the Gospel is the ‘power of God’.

The name of that stretch of shallow water separating the south of Iran from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states has always been the Persian Gulf. This is not surprising since Iran has usually been the dominant regional power and indeed Bahrain and those Gulf states used to be a part of the Persian Empire. However in modern times some have started to use another name, anathema to all Iranians and friends of Iran – the Arabian Gulf. The dispute has rumbled on, but now Tehran has decided enough is enough and has announced draconian measures to protect the correct title: any airline using the unrepeatable name will not be allowed to use Iranian airspace. Whether this will work out in practice is another matter, but a point has been rather forcefully made.

This raising of the stakes shows how the present government are determined to show they can be trusted to protect nationalistic sentiment. All Iranian Christians believe the name must be Persian Gulf and so this form of nationalism presents them with no dilemma. It is when you have to prove you are a patriot by subscribing to a particular religion the real problems begin.

Pray for

• Politicians to handle nationalistic sentiment with integrity
• Good relations between Iran and her Arab neighbours
• Christians to be respected as faithful citizens

At home most Iranians support the nuclear programme and their right to defend themselves. This explains why President Ahmadinejad proudly announced during the 31^st anniversary celebrations that Iran can now enrich uranium to 20%, and is going to mass produce ‘drone’ planes. This went down well among the thousands of supporters who massed in Tehran’s Azadi Square for the celebrations, many of them bussed in for free. So intense was the security that the President’s opponents had little chance to make their mark on the day. And even if they had been given a platform, they would never have denounced the government’s nuclear achievements – that would be far too unpatriotic. Abroad of course these announcements have caused a new round of condemnation and threats of sanctions from everyone – apart from China and Saudi Arabia. China wants more diplomacy; Saudi Arabia ominously talks of more immediate action. Sanctions or worse would only strengthen Tehran’s narrative of a secular world out to belittle a great Islamic nation; it is very unlikely they would stop the uranium enrichment programme. However they would notch up the divide even more between Iran and the West, which would spell danger of anyone suspected of not being totally loyal to the country. That could include Christians, who belong to the Iranian and the worldwide church. There is much to pray for.

Pray for

• Iran’s leaders responsible for the defence of their country
• Wisdom for all diplomats engaged in discussing the nuclear issue
• Protection for believers who want to be loyal Iranians and loyal Christians

The execution a man and a teenager, Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani (37) and Arash Rahmanipour (19) who were detained during the summer protests has sent a chilling warning to the government’s political opponents. The state prosecutor said they had been found guilty of being ‘enemies of God’ after confessing membership of a pro monarchist group intent on committing acts of violence. The executions have been widely condemned. A spokesman for the human rights groups Amnesty International called them ‘shocking’, and said ‘these men have been unfairly convicted…and unjustly killed.’ The agency is concerned about nine others facing similar charges, also on death row. Many observers believe the confessions are extracted during torture. With reports in the press that opposition leaders are now making conciliatory gestures towards the government, it would seem the message of the executions is having an impact. Whether this method of seeing off challenges will work in the long-term is another matter.

Pray for

• The families of those executed to be comforted
• Protection for those whose consciences demand they speak out
• Wisdom for church leaders in the present tense situation.

There is a dangerous impasse. Iran has rejected the deal whereby they would export their uranium to a third country to allay fears it would be enriched for weapon use. The US has said this is an ‘inadequate response’ which means they will want to talk sanctions, a step supported by Europe, but not by Russia or China. And after sanctions, there is a real threat of war. That is why there is such an urgent need for serious intercessors. David Petraeus, a senior US military figure, has let it be known that there are contingency plans if negotiations fail. And Israel has always made it clear that it is not willing to tolerate a nuclear armed Iran.

Pray for

•  Wisdom for the negotiators – Yukiya Amano (head of IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency); Said Jalilee, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council; Avigdor Liberman, Israel’s Foreign Minister; Hilary Clinton; US Secretary of State.
• A peaceful resolution to the crisis
• Wider stability throughout the Middle East

Intrepid revolutionary activist before 1979, co-writer of the Islamic Republic’s constitution, and till 1988 the Ayatollah Khomeini’s designated successor, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri who died on Sunday December 20, 2009 was certainly an influential figure. And yet this Grand Ayatollah, more qualified in the interpretation of Islamic law than the present Supreme Leader, opposed punishing those who converted from the religion of their birth. Answering a question put to him in 2005 regarding the issue of apostates from Islam he said: “if a Muslim converted to another religion on his free will and after a careful study, his choice must be respected and his rights protected.” This reply is very significant as it proves that the Iranian authorities do not have to persecute Christians for religious reasons.

Pray for

• Ayatollah Montazeri’s teaching against persecuting apostates to be accepted
• Freedom to convert from Islam to be written into the legal constitution
• Ayatollah Montazeri’s family to be comforted, and to hear about Christ

Iran’s subsidies for the needs of life such as gasoline, electricity, water, and basic foods are generous. In fact for several years many economists have said they are too generous, draining away most of the country’s budget and leaving little for crucial investment. And if severer sanctions come as a result of the nuclear crisis, people need to be prepared for leaner times. So President Ahmadinejad has pushed a bill through parliament, reforming the subsidy system. But the Guardian Council, that vets all legislation, is not happy and have sent the bill back. Their unease is probably not because they disagree with the need to rein in expenditure on subsidies, but rather over who will get to spend the extra cash. The bill leaves it with the President, and that might be their problem. Whatever happens, the withdrawing of subsidies will put pressure on average families, already squeezed by inflation. This includes of course all Christians, who are often more exposed to rough economic winds because their employment is vulnerable due to their faith.

Pray for

•  Wisdom for those responsible for the economy
• The poor who will be worse hit
• The church to respond generously to needy members

On December 1^st the Egyptian Dr ElBaradei stepped down as head of the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He is succeeded by Yukiya Amano, a quietly spoken Japanese diplomat. With the situation over Iran’s atomic ambitions becoming ever tenser, Mr Amano needs heavenly wisdom. For the first time in four years the IAEA passed a resolution against Iran on Friday (Nov 27^th) for not immediately informing the agency about the enrichment plant being built near Qom. Iran’s response has been to announce that it will build ten more enrichment centres. Some news agencies report that Iran is even thinking of withdrawing from the IAEA. This is certainly a time for Mr Amano to exercise all his diplomatic skills.

Pray for

• Yukiya Amano’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution
• Iran’s security fears to be allayed
• Israel’s security fears to be allayed

Early in October there was hope of a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis. Iran would allow in inspectors for the new site near Qom, and, crucially, agree that much of its uranium was shipped out to Russia and France for the final stages of enriching, so ensuring it could only be used to for electricity. Now Iran is not happy to send out the uranium, but is ready to exchange uranium for nuclear fuel on its own territory. The negotiators must return to the table and they deserve the intense prayers of Christians. For already there are signals that other parties are considering war. Israel has constantly said that all options are on the table when it comes to Iran, and in the summer undertook its own military exercise interpreted as wanting to show Tehran it could launch an attack. In response Iran has begun five days of air defence drills this week, aimed at showing it could prevent such an attack, combined with a warning from Mojtoba Zolnour, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards, that the country’s missiles were targeted on Tel Aviv and would be fired before the dust had settled after any Israeli attack. The rattling of sabres has begun; may the nuclear negotiators be given supernatural wisdom to ensure peace prevails.

Pray for

• All those whose decisions will determine peace or war – Mohamed ElBaradei (head of International Atomic Energy Agency); Hilary Clinton (US Secretary of State); Saeed Jalili, (Iran’s, chief nuclear negotiator); Manouchehr Mottaki (Iran, Foreign Minister); Benjamin Netanayu (Israel prime- minister).
• Massive surge of intercession to cry out for peace
• Church to speak out with authority for peace

Protesters against the re-election of President Ahmadinejad again braved the streets on November 4^th – and again met beatings, tear gas, and about a hundred were arrested by the security forces. Forty of these were questioned and released, but the others are still in prison, along with an estimated two hundred others detained since the summer demonstrations. Their cases will now be dealt with by the Revolutionary Courts led by the conservative activist Sadeq Larijani. Already some seemingly harsh sentences have been given out. In October Hossein Rassam, on the staff at the British Embassy in Tehran, was sentenced to four years for allegedly fomenting opposition to the government, a charge he denies. And the Iranian-American Kian Tajbakhsh, an academic, has been sentenced to twelve years on the same charge.

Pray for

• Godly wisdom for those dealing with the protests
• Justice in the courts and a loathing for unfair sentences
• Freedom for all unfairly sentenced