Pray for Iran

Iran, is a country in Southern and western Asia.

It is bordered by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia
in the north. Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf
of Oman in the south, Iraq in the west and Turkey in the northwest.

Tehran is the capital.
The population is around 79 million.

FACTS
The name of 'Iran' comes from the Proto-Iranian term 'Aryānā' which means
'Land of the Aryans'

Historically Iran has been referred to as 'Persia'.

'Shah' (King) was a title given to the kings/emperors of Iran and India.

Iran has been famous for its art, literature, medicine, astronomy
and mathematics

Iran has the 2nd largest natural gas reserves in the world.
It also has the 4th largest petroleum reserves.

There are over a hundred different ethnic groups in Iran.

DEMOGRAPHICS
65% Persian
16% Azeri
7%  Kurd
6%  Lurs
2%  Arab
2%  Baloch
1%  Turkmen
1%  Turkic tribal groups (e.g. Qashqai)
Less than 1%  Pashtuns, Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians.

89% Shi'a Muslim
9%  Sunni Muslim
2%  Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Bahá'í

HISTORY
Iran is home to some of the world's oldest civilizations

Many kingdoms have formed in Iran:
Elamites
Medes
Persian Empire
Parthian
Sassanid

Arabs conquered Iran in 651 A.D and established a series of Caliphates.

During the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1250) there was a surge in Iranian identity.

During the 10th century many Turkic tribes from Central Asia moved to Iranian.
In time many of them gained great political power.

In time Iran war ruled by several Turkish dynasties/kingdoms
The Ghaznavid Dynasty 999-1037
The Turkish Seljuk Empire 1037-1194
The Khwarazmian Dynasty    1077-1256

From 1219-21 Iran was invaded by the Mongols
10-15 million people are believed to have been killed during this time.

After the collapse of the Mongol empire, Iran when through a series of other conquerors.

From 1501-1979 Iran was ruled by the Safavid Dynasty.

From 1953 on Iran's rulers gradually became more autocratic.

Dissent against foreign influence and political repression led to the
Iranian Revolution and the establishment of an Islamic republic in 1979.

CONDITIONS
The economy is a mixed and transition economy with a large public sector.
It is dominated by oil and gas production.

Iran has 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves
and is considered an "energy superpower

The Tehran Stock Exchange, is one of the best performing exchanges in the world

Iran has a great deal of  scientific growth  and has one of the fastest development in telecommunication globally.

Price controls and subsidies, particularly on food and energy, burden the economy.

Contraband, administrative controls, widespread corruption and other restrictive
factors undermine private sector-led growth.

Iran is suffering from inflation.
Unemployment has risen to over 30% for those under age 30.
An estimated 13 million Iranians live below the poverty line.
200,000 children live on the streets

Iran's political, economic and social situations are fragile.
Many of the ruling elite are unpopular.

Iran has a volatile relationship toward the West and Israel.

There have been accusations of financing terrorist groups and expansion into the power vacuum left by the conquest of Iraq.

There has been an increasing generation gap
Around 200,000 of Iran's best-educated young people emigrate every year.
36% of Iranians aged 15-29 expressed an intention to do the same.

There has been a great deal of social breakdown.

There is a widespread and illegal underground party-circuit which flouts Islamic values.

Iran has the highest rate of opium addiction in the world),
There are nearly five million drug addicts
There are a very large number of prostitutes.

The majority of the population is under 30.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
Iran's state religion is Shi'a Islam.
Followers of other faiths are treated severely.

Many Iranians believe strongly in the Madhi, a future Imam (spiritual leader)
who, according to Shi'ism, will establish Islam as the global religion.

Protestant pastors are forbidden to preach in Farsi (the official language)
and can only use the Armenian or Assyrian language.

Mission organizations are not allowed to enter Iran.
Open witnessing to Muslims is banned.
The government sends spies to monitor Christian groups.

Believers are discriminated against in education, employment and property ownership.
Many of the approximately 350,000 believers live in fear of harassment
by the government.

In an effort to distract attention from continuing protests against it,
the Regime is increasingly lashing out against Christians.

After decades of government oppression, Iranians are hungry for spiritual meaning.
Christian programs broadcast by satellite receive hundreds of calls.
House church leaders are nearly overwhelmed caring for these new believers.

Of the 100 ethnic groups in Iran 93 are still unreached.

There is a huge need for Bibles.

MARTYRS AND SUFFERERS
Two Iranian Christian women, Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, 30,
and Maryam Rustampoor, 27, were arrested as "anti-government activists."
As of late 2009, they were still being held in the notorious Evin Prison
and in need of medical care.
They are typical of how the Iranian government treats Christian converts.

There was a sharp increase in the number of Christians arrested in 2010.
Although some were later released, pressure on the church remains high.

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that Iran's political, economic and social situations improve.

Pray that God to expose the plans of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah.
Pray for salvation of the President and leaders of terrorist groups.

Pray for those suffering from unemployment.
Pray for those who live in poverty
Pray for those who live on the streets.

Pray for those suffering from drug addiction.

Pray for those involved in prostitution.

Pray for political change; so that people can live in a fairer more humane society.

Pray that those facing pressure and hopelessness might find hope in Jesus

Pray for protection for Christians in prison.

Pray for perseverance for Christians under surveillance.

Pray that God supply His people with His Word.

Pray that many of the young will be reached with the gospel .