The Iranian regime remains defiant as its joint military command announced it would start targeting banks and financial institutions in the Middle East, reported Associated Press. That would put at risk, particularly, the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain.
So far, two Iranian drones attacked near the Dubai International Airport, and a projectile took down a Thai cargo ship off the coast of Oman. Kwait and Saudi Arabia have both intercepted a number of Iranian drones.
Iran's actions against its Muslim neighbors prompted the U.N. Security Council to vote on a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council demanding Iran stop attacking its Arab neighbors.
Dr. Glen Duerr is chair of history and government and professor of international studies at Cedarville University.
"All across the world, there's very, very little sympathy for Iran's regime. The question is what do you do about it?” asks Duerr.
He says that political debate is being played out in the U.S.
“It's certainly along partisan lines, but I don't think too many people are lamenting the loss of the Ayatollah or that the regime was hit hard,” says Duerr,” bearing in mind that there are so many oppressed people in Iran that are worthy of our sympathy and respect."
Duerr informs that one oppressed group is Iranian Christians.
"Notably, the gospel has really grown very, very quickly in Iran. Some estimates have two to three million Bible believing Christians in Iran today. It's one of the fastest places on the planet where the gospel is growing and disciples are being made,” states Duerr. “So, there are some fascinating stories within Iran despite the despotism."
Minority Rights Group says there is an estimate of 300,000 Christians in Iran. They can be categorized as “ethnic Christians” — Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldeans — and “non-ethnic Christians” — Protestants and evangelicals.
