Hi friends! It’s a sobering thought, but could the war in Iran be the can of worms some predicted it to be?

While it is true the US and Israel have decimated major targets in Iran (typically signifying a major military victory), Iran is no ordinary enemy. The war Iran fights is asymmetrical in every conceivable way, meaning their idea of battle and victory are totally different than the normal ideas of battle and victory. For example:

• Just like their proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis, and just like the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard will go to great lengths just to survive. Then, they will claim victory. For them, they win the war if they are simply standing in the end. Why? Because they fight a religious war in which they believe their god has called them to cause apocalyptic chaos and kill off as many infidels (those who disagree with them religiously) as possible. If that is the objective, then they certainly have won the war!
• They will lie, cheat, and scheme to accomplish their mission. While the civil world looks to peace treaties to settle wars, Iran has absolutely no hesitation in dragging out negotiations (as they are doing right now), eventually signing what they consider a useless document (which they did with the Obama JCPOA), then immediately doing whatever they please against the terms of the treaty. We have watched that play out for years with Hamas, Hezbollah and others, and Iran is poised to do the same.
• The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) is more powerful than the legally recognized government of Iran. You’ll see why in the statement below.
• The IRGC has absolutely no regard for human life. They aim their rockets at civilian targets, and they fire those rockets from their own civilian structures (using their own people as human shields). That is a double war crime according to international law, but they disregard all law and order. We have seen it with ISIS and others in the past, we see it with Hamas and Hezbollah in the present, and the IRGC is doing the same thing now. They do not engage according to international rules of law.
• Women are nothing more than possessions, used for whatever means Iranian men deem important. Even their own lives have little value, as they believe that dying a martyr for the cause of Allah wins them 70 virgins in heaven. In large part, the IRGC is believed to be a drug-ridden, sex-crazed, demonically influenced group of maniacs willing to do anything in the name of a false god.

Thus, based on Iran’s asymmetric ideas of battle and victory, they are winning, which explains why they refuse to negotiate with America’s greatest deal-makers, then turn around and declare victory. Perhaps America and Israel have enough “up their sleeves” to bring about some sort of victory in the Middle East quagmire, but it is not likely to be the complete victory some proclaim and many hope for.

Here is an eye-opening assessment of Iran’s continued asymmetric battle:

An Iranian Telegram channel gives us a glimpse into life in Tehran, after more than 40 days of war:

Tehran has filled with Toyota Hilux pickup trucks armed with machine guns. The city’s appearance has become just like during the ISIS rule in Raqqa(Syria) and Mosul(Iraq). Special units are deployed in parks, schools, and mosques. Checkpoints have increased, but with fewer personnel.

At most major intersections, suppression forces have been stationed. Under the bridges of all highways, checkpoints have been set up with flags of the Islamic Republic, Zainabiyoun, Fatemiyoun, and Hashd al-Shaabi, deliberately causing traffic jams and harassing citizens.

Tehran has effectively become a military camp for foreign militias subordinate to the Revolutionary Guards. Congratulations to the dishonorable commanders of the army.

Private companies are operating at full capacity, but government offices, which were supposed to work with 50% of the staff, barely reach 30%. And even those who do come leave in the middle of the day. In other words, if you arrive at offices toward the end of the day, there is almost no one there. Telephone response is almost non-existent. The city’s transportation system also operates at less than half its pre-war capacity.

Most city buses are used by special units and Basij for rest and changing clothes.

In practice, there is no government. Everything is under the control of the Revolutionary Guards and security bodies. The government has effectively become a ceremonial body that advances the economic, social, and military goals of the Revolutionary Guards. Government institutions have become a kind of independent “colonies,” with no connection between them or with the higher levels.

Education systems like “Shad” are not operational, and in practice, schooling in schools is suspended. Universities have also moved to online learning, but with what internet and infrastructure. Nothing.

Governmental, service, and banking systems also operate intermittently. ATMs mostly have no cash, and it is almost impossible to obtain cash.

Tehran is no longer the Tehran it once was. The place of movement, energy, and bustle has been taken by waves of suppression forces and armed armored vehicles. Nothing here is normal. Do not believe the staged and fake pictures coming from parks and cafes. These days, if security conditions and means allowed, it would be possible to make a documentary about Tehran’s condition and call it: “Tehran – The City of the Walking Dead.”

But people still hope. The failure of the talks in Islamabad was good news for them because there is still hope that the fate of this violent regime will be decided. The truth is that the public fears the renewal of war, but fears even more the renewed recovery of the Islamic Republic.

~Amir Tsarfati's Telegram, 4/13/2026

Can of worms or not, rest assured, Christian friends. God is still in control and Jesus still sits on the throne. His sovereignty remains sure, and as children of the King, we trust that our Father will never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) If you belong to Him but have strayed from His Word, it is time to return! His Word gives us hope, wisdom, and clarity of truth. It also gives us comfort and assurance in times like these when chaos in our world seems to be never ending.

Here’s our challenge: Commit to discuss a passage of Scripture with at least one person every day, if only a brief statement. Sharing Scripture requires us to know Scripture, so let’s hide His Word in our hearts, then share it with others!