November 24 looms.  That is the deadline set for the P5+1 (Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and the US) to complete a deal with Iran that would contain Iran’s nuclear capability while reducing sanctions against them.  For almost a year the focus has been on coming to agreement to ease economic sanctions gradually if Iran accepts restrictions intended to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.  Recently, however, Iran has initiated a push for quicker relief from current sanctions.  In other words, they want the world to immediately lift crippling economic sanctions, while trusting them not to develop a nuclear weapon.

Sanctions are imposed by the US and European countries, as well as additional sanctions by the UN.  US/European sanctions have worked to isolate Iran financially and cut off its oil sales.  UN sanctions authorize authorities to inspect Iranian cargo for “duel-use” equipment that could be used for peaceful purposes or for nuclear weapons.  If UN sanctions are removed, it would require significant action in the UN to re-instate them.  Thus, Iran would have the time it needs to develop nuclear weapons before the UN could react.

So, what will come of the negotiations, set to expire November 24?  No one knows for sure.  Some say progress is being made, some say an extension of the deadline is inevitable.  With the US seeking “hero status” in foreign policy, and with Russia seeking world domination, the next couple weeks could be critical.  No deal is better than a bad deal, so let’s pray the US administration does not get so enamored with “striking a deal” that they agree to a bad one.  Let’s pray, also, that Russia, in its bid for domination and its Ezekiel 38 bent toward siding with Iran, does not push for a bad plan.

Meanwhile, as Iran’s nuclear ambitions continue to grab headlines, there is another story to be told.  While world powers have negotiated Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Pastor Saeed Abedini has been imprisoned in Iran simply because of his faith.

According to the Be Heard Project, “Pastor Saeed is an American Pastor who is serving an 8 year sentence in one of Iran’s toughest prisons simply for sharing his Christian faith.”  Saeed and his family are from Idaho, yet on a family visit to Tehran in 2012 he was arrested while making plans to build an orphanage in Iran.  The Revolutionary Guard placed him in solitary confinement, beat him, and ruthlessly interrogated him.  Despite infections and internal injuries resulting from his beatings, medical personnel refused to treat him because he is a Christian and considered an infidel.

Ultimately, Saeed’s internal injuries required surgery, yet Iranian officials have denied it.  In America, a petition was started and, due to overwhelming media attention, the US administration called for Saeed’s release earlier this year.  To date, the Iranians have not cooperated.

My heart is heavy.  While a nuclear deal garners the attention of world leaders, humanitarian atrocities such as this abound in Iran and other places.  Perhaps these issues should be addressed, and should be a part of any “deal” that is crafted by the P5+1.

Will you join me in praying for Pastor Saeed Abedini and his family?  Then, may we extend our prayers to include the hundreds of thousands of other Christians around the world who face similar situations?  We may not know their names, but our God in heaven does.  On their behalf, let’s pray as David prayed in Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8:

My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.