Iran Updates

Protests in Iran seem to be simmering down, but the rest of the world is still figuring out how to respond to the Islamic government's violent crackdown. 

After mounting pressure from global leaders, Iranian officials announced Thursday that a 26-year-old man arrested during the protests would not face the death penalty, and that they had “no plan” to conduct mass executions of other arrested protestors.

President Trump confirmed the reports, saying “the killings have stopped,” and calling the announcement “good news”—though Washington is still weighing getting the troops involved. 

Earlier this week, Iran briefly closed its airspace, and the U.S. started withdrawing some personnel from its Middle-East military bases. And yesterday morning, Uncle Sam issued a fresh set of economic sanctions against Iranian officials—though the penalties are largely symbolic, since most don’t bank with U.S. institutions.

Verse to consider whether you’re conducting high-level international diplomacy, stuck in the middle of a tense conflict at work, settling playground squabbles, or just trying to get your cat into his carrier… “Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.” 
Psalm 34:14–15 (CSB) (read full passage)