Nuclear Deal Heralds New Era for Iran

At sunset on Tuesday 14th July, as the Ramadan fast ended for the day, Iranians poured onto the streets of the capital Tehran, to celebrate the historic nuclear deal agreed with world powers in Vienna.

Supporters of President Hassan Rouhani and his top negotiator, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, waved Iranian flags from their cars, while drivers honked their car horns.

At least three thousand people also gathered near the Tajrish district of northern Tehran, singing celebratory songs while dancing and flashing victory signs.

With the signing of the agreement, people who attended the celebration said they are hopeful that the country’s economy and the lives of ordinary citizens would improve.

Once sanctions are lifted in the coming months, Tehran will gain access to $100-bn in frozen assets, while opening the country for trade.

The agreement has been hailed as a political victory for Iran, with the President saying the agreement meant that Iran would no longer be regarded as an international threat.

Iranian Christians are also hoping and praying that this will herald a time of greater freedom for them to worship and live out their faith, in a country where the Church is growing at an unprecedented rate.

• Pray for Iran in the wake of the nuclear deal, that the lifting of sanctions will, indeed, bring an easing to living conditions for its people.
• Pray for the Church in Iran to continue to grow, for the continued spread of the Gospel, and for deepening faith and maturity for Iranian believers.
• Pray that there will be a greater freedom for Christians in Iran to worship and share their faith without fear.

Psalm 22 vs 27: “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him”

Source: http://www.aljazeera.com