WHAT YOU’RE ASKING

Soo… Iran’s nuclear program?

Strap on your science hats. 🧑‍🔬 To understand the nuclear program, we have to start with uranium. 

Uranium is a naturally occurring metallic element that can be mined and enriched (made more concentrated). At low levels (3-5%) it’s used to fuel power plants, and at high levels (> 90%) it’s used to make nukes (see the spectrum here). Iran has been enriching its uranium up to 60%... and arms experts have lost sleep over how close that’s getting to the 90% weapons-grade threshold.

Broad strokes: Iran’s nuclear program = uranium enrichment facilities and resources.

When did Iran start enriching uranium?
Waaaay back in the 50s and all thanks to Uncle Sam. 

During the Cold War, the U.S. shared nuclear intel and tech with its allies (including Iran), in a collective effort to help “strip military casing and adapt it to the arts of peace.” After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, America’s relationship with Iran collapsed, and Iran kept building its nuclear program.

*fast forward 20ish years*

In 2002, secret nuclear facilities undisclosed by Iran were exposed. The discovery triggered years of sanctions, followed by the Obama-era "Iran Deal" in which Iran said it’d cap enrichment and allow inspections in exchange for sanctions relief. President Trump 1.0 pulled the U.S. out of that deal, saying it was “one-sided” and failed to protect U.S. security interests.

Today, Iran’s nuclear program is “99%” of the reason Trump 2.0 says he attacked Iran on February 28.

On June 15, 2026, the two countries signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (aka a pre-peace deal), and point #8 says Iran has agreed to never make or procure a nuclear weapon and that its existing uranium to be handled in a “mutually agreed upon” way.

So… does Iran have nukes?
No.

But they do have 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (to 60% since you know what that means now!) and a history of noncompliance with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog. Iran has continually maintained that their program is peaceful, but the international community is skeptical.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
It can be easy to fear war and violence, but believers are reminded of how good the news is of Jesus’s coming kingdom. His Spirit offers supernatural peace in our hearts today, and his return promises peace in a renewed earth forever. 

“‘For I will create new heavens and a new earth… The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,’ says the Lord.” 
Isaiah 65:17, 25 (CSB) (read full passage)

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WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY

Testing your knowledge and context clues with this week’s crossword.

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An easy prayer book for your eager little readers. Written by TPO reader Laura S., the My Tender Heart Prayer Book teaches kids to talk to God with simple, rhyming prayers they won’t forget. With National Day of Prayer last month, it’s the perfect time to teach them the value of praying and how much God loves them. Check it out!*

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WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…

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Top Christian Perspective: A verse to remember when things feel uncertain. Download and save it here!

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WHAT WE’RE PRAYING

A Prayer for Nuclear Negotiations

God Our Father, we bring our anxieties to you: the one who measures the firepower in all the world’s secret storehouses; the one whose command snaps the forces of chaos to attention; the one who numbers the moments of every creature. O Lord of Hosts, defuse any weapons poised for destruction and point our world toward peace. 

Thwart the plans of evil powers who are pushing against their neighbors’ flourishing, ruminating in hatred and undermining peace. Overpower and disarm them so they cannot harm the innocent. Give prudence to those who manage massive arsenals, that they might defend with discernment and push forward the common good. O Lord of Hosts, defuse the weapons poised for destruction and point our world toward peace. Amen.

Want more guided prayers to help you bring current events before the Lord? To check out TPO’s new audio devotional and join us in prayer on Monday for negotiations with Iran, text PRAY to 71989.

LEARN WITH US

Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down in the office and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click to watch the episode below.