American Evangelist Urges Prayer for Christians in Iran

American evangelist Robby Dawkins has issued an urgent call for prayer for Christians in Iran, citing heightened risks for believers as the country faces significant political instability.

Dawkins made the plea following a mission trip to the Middle East, during which he met with 25 Iranian underground church leaders. These leaders had been transported from Iran to Armenia to receive biblical instruction focused on healing.

The call for prayer comes amid reports that the Islamic Republic is near collapse. Dawkins stated his concern that Islamic hardliners may lash out against those perceived as supporters of Israel and the United States. He specifically noted reports that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may be emboldened to target leaders within the underground church.

Since 2019, Dawkins has established power-evangelism schools in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, where church gatherings primarily occur in underground locations. He reported that the regime seeks to eliminate individuals who have witnessed war crimes committed by the government.

During his time in the Middle East, Dawkins delivered 300 pieces of gospel media, including the Jesus Film, dramatizations of the gospels, audio Bibles, and three of his own books translated into Farsi. These materials were welcomed by both secular Iranians and church leaders.

Dawkins described meeting a young female leader who had been shot during protests against the Islamic regime earlier in 2026. He stated that after his team prayed for her, she was healed of stomach cramps caused by bullets remaining in her body.

Military Strikes and Leadership Deaths

The instability in Iran follows a series of American and Israeli joint airstrikes on March 2, 2026, which targeted the capital, Tehran. The strikes resulted in the death of the 86-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for nearly 40 years.

Other high-ranking officials killed in the strikes included the secretary of the Iranian Security Council, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Iran’s defense minister. The military action followed a period of stalled diplomatic negotiations between President Donald Trump and Khamenei.

Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world

President Donald Trump

In a video posted to Truth Social, President Trump stated that the objective of the strikes was to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.

Civil Unrest and Persecution

The military developments follow a period of intense internal unrest. In January 2026, protests broke out across Iran, resulting in an estimated 500 to 1,000 deaths over a two-week period.

Hormoz Shariat, founder of Iran Alive Ministries, reported to Baptist Press on January 12, 2026, that Christians had been shot by police during these demonstrations. Shariat, communicating via Starlink to bypass government internet blackouts, noted that Christians were in danger because they were ministering to protesters.

Shariat detailed an incident on January 11, 2026, involving a Christian man who had been shot and was hiding in a home. He also shared an account of a wounded individual who accepted Christ after being treated by a Christian nurse who shared the Gospel while dressing the man’s wounds.

Evangelical Response

Evangelical leaders in the United States have responded to the volatility in Iran with calls for global prayer. On February 28, 2026, Franklin Graham posted on Facebook, thanking President Trump for giving the Iranian people a chance to be free and urging believers to pray for the U.S. Military.

Graham also encouraged prayers for the spiritual state of Iran, expressing a hope that the population would be set free from the bondage of Islam.

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Church in Riverside, California, also called for believers to pray for peace, for Israel, and for the Iranian people, stating his hope that many would come to Christ.