Just like that, the world has been thrust into the shock and turmoil of war. With the preemptive attack by the USA and Israel on the Supreme Leader of Iran, we are ushered into a new phase of geopolitical wranglings and mixed commentary that challenges the thinking of even the most astute.

With absolute assurance, one commentator may espouse “the real reason” behind the conflict…only to be cut off by the next in line, who suggests unequivocally that he knows the “ultimate goal.” I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that there is indeed only One that has the final, complete and immediate knowledge of all the events transpiring in this perpetual hotspot of the Middle East. Almighty God, our sovereign Creator…. He knows.

Knowing that God knows and cares and that He is on the throne, ruling in the affairs of men, has been the greatest comfort for Christians the world over, across the expanse of time. That comfort is especially poignant during times of catastrophic upheaval, particularly during times of persecution. According to “Voice of the Martyrs”, a publication by the organization of the same name, founded by Richard Wurmbrand in 1967, some 380 million Christians globally are experiencing high levels of persecution. Leading a notorious list of the most violent oppressors of the bride of Christ have been North Korea, Eritrea, and Nigeria; however, recent developments in Iran have exposed a level of brutality that now places the leadership of that country among the worst.

The Ayatollah and his brute squad, the “Guidance Patrol”, were known for enforcing a strict Islamist morality on all citizens, Muslim and Christian alike. Muslim women have been cited 3.6 million times for “hijab infractions.” Christians speaking derogatorily of Islam or evangelizing with the gospel have been, with little due process, tortured in Evin Prison, or summarily executed. Despite these horrendous conditions and precarious environment, Christianity has been steadily growing in Iran. The human rights organization, International Christian Concern, has stated that Christianity is growing faster in Iran than anywhere else in the world. Open Doors verifies that the number of gospel believers has jumped from 370,000 to over 800,000 in just 10 years. The grip of the tyrants is loosening, many young Iranians, having been disillusioned with the regime, are finding hope and forgiveness of their sins as they put their trust in Jesus. But don’t think for a moment that the Devil and his minions will give up so easily.

Recent protests that led up to the current crisis were organized by many sectors of Iranian society, including university students, moderate Muslims, and yes, Christians. Protest began in earnest back on Jan 9, 2026 and quickly generated a wide following. The government responded harshly and decisively to quell the popular uprising. Firing live rounds into crowds of their own citizens, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps showed little regard for life. The numbers reported vary widely, but most now say that at least 30,000 protestors were killed in the violence, some even being shot in their hospital beds after being wounded on the streets. Others were being hung in public executions meant to warn citizens not to protest or risk torture and death.

Almost immediately, President Trump called on the mullahs to cease and desist, or “very bad things will happen!” The brutal Iranian leadership dismissed his threats and are now experiencing those “very bad things”. Leaders around the world—and especially in the Middle East—have shown a surprising level of solidarity in condemning the actions of Khameini and a certain satisfaction in his demise after a 4-decade reign of terror. A coalition of countries are participating in the removal of the vestiges of this despotic oligarchy with the hopes that the popular uprising will be able to form a new just government in waiting. Even the impromptu rejoicing in the streets of cities across our Canada have muted the typical leftist browbeating of the “warmonger to the south”.

I believe—at the very least—God has allowed the machinations of the various movers and powers of the earth to provide a much needed and prayerfully sought opportunity for our brothers and sisters in Iran to enjoy a freedom never before experienced. Namely, the freedom to share the Gospel openly. May God establish conditions for the people of Iran, Israel and surrounding countries to find and embrace Jesus, the only true source of hope and lasting peace.

Note from the Leader: I want to thank our Deputy Leader, Dave Bylsma, for this great commentary. He’s right in reminding us that God is still on the throne and rules among the nations. The CHP has not yet made a public statement about the US / Israeli military maneuvers in Iran, and some of our members and those who follow our commentary may be wondering where we stand. To clarify my position, I submit these few comments: Canada has no direct involvement in this military operation, but we are still affected. World trade, oil prices, geopolitical tensions between countries and potential acts of terror…all these things need to be considered. Not to mention the inevitable loss of many lives.

The bottom line, though, is that we support Israel’s right to exist as a nation. Iran and her proxies have kept up a continuous attack with missiles, drones, suicide bombers and—most notably—the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack. Israel has the right to defend herself. The US is our closest ally and reliable trading partner, notwithstanding this past year of tariff woes and cross-border negative chatter. The US has been attacked directly and indirectly by Iran for 47 years, with the cumulative loss of thousands of lives; she also has the right to defend herself against nukes, ballistic missiles and terrorist actions. And lastly, the Iranian people themselves, who have suffered and died under the Ayatollah for 47 years, deserve a chance to rethink their government and regain their freedom. It’s impossible to know how this will play out, but we in the CHP stand with the US and Israel in their attempts to reduce or eliminate the threat of a nuclear-armed and hostile Iran. We pray that when the dust settles, the Middle East will be a more peaceful place.—Rod Taylor