As a proud American, Republican, and Christian, I was distraught recently attending the Georgia State Republican convention. Don’t get me wrong; I am always uplifted being in the presence of fellow conservatives and never more committed to the Republican agenda for my beloved adopted country. But this year, I was placed in the position of defending our imperative to actively support Israel among people who should know better.

Since becoming a Christian in Iran in 1999, I have known that Israel is important to me and my faith. I know this because Israel is the land of my savior. After all, it's people are his people. I also know this because of the once warm relations and history between Persians and Jews going back as far as King Cyrus, up until the rise of the Islamic Republic regime in 1979, which I advocate to restore.

Growing up in Iran and being sentenced to death because of my faith in Jesus, I understand that my perspective is unique. It’s something I share actively in my public speaking, writing, and private conversations, as I had at the state convention. Despite spending nine months in Iran’s brutal prison, subject to harsh interrogation and inhuman conditions, and witnessing the torture and execution of my cellmates and closest friend, my faith never changed, nor did my understanding that Israel was central to it.

The urgency to support Israel as conservative Christians has never been clearer. Since the October 7th, 2023, Hamas attack and massacre on Israel, much of the world has gone mad in supporting the Islamic regime-backed terrorist proxy. The Islamic regime was not just “successful” in funding, training, and arming Hamas along with other terror proxies but also “successful” in spreading its lies and propaganda under the deceptive movement and slogans to “Free Palestine” throughout America and Western countries.

To be clear, this is a clear and present danger to the United States. As conservatives, not understanding and countering its evil influence puts America and all Americans in danger. It’s an urgent domestic issue, not just about supporting Israel as our closest ally.

The “messianic” apocalyptic goal of the Iranian Islamic regime, though its terrorist puppet tentacles, is to establish a global Islamic caliphate. We see signs of this throughout America; in media, genocidal protests across our cities and campuses, and even in government. This is a dangerous wake-up call to which Americans must rise to counteract.

Islamic regime agents and fake reformists have penetrated the highest levels of American and Western societies. They brainwash youth and, under the guise of religious freedom, establish mosques and other Islamic organizations as beachheads. They seek extremist and misogynist Sharia law to be the law of the land.

Unfortunately, prominent conservative influencers, political leaders, and even Christians have not been immune from this evil influence. I saw that firsthand this week, and it concerns me deeply.

This week, I also learned of my fellow conservative Christian Georgian, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (MTG), who I always admired and who provided fuel to the fire of our political adversaries. MTG was the one Republican to vote alongside the corruptive antisemitic and anti-American Rashida Tlaib against a motion condemning antisemitism. Honestly, it was shocking.

Regarding Iran, MTG also posted, “I have not heard a single American say they want another war in the Middle East or anywhere else. I do not support going to war on behalf of other countries.” Unfortunately, it seems MTG doesn’t understand that it is an urgent American interest to eliminate the Islamic regime threat, not just supporting our ally, Israel.

Of course, no one likes war, including me. But eliminating threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, or in Iran itself, is an American interest. She seems not to understand that the war has already started, and the front line is in our backyard. She seems not to see that when the Islamic regime forces people to chant “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” it is not just slogans but a call to battle to destroy America and Israel.

As I was writing this article, widespread reports have come out that the US Embassy in Iraq is preparing to be evacuated because of threats from the Islamic regime, as well as partial evacuations of our embassies in Kuwait and Bahrain. All this is as a result of the Iranian Defense Minister threatening to strike US bases in the region if nuclear talks and conflict arise. “All US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries.” If this is not proof of a direct threat to the United States, our troops, diplomats, and interests, I don’t know what other evidence is needed.

My position is also guided by my faith. Israel is not just any other country. The Old Testament is all about the history of and covenant with the Jewish people and the foundation of the New Testament. Jesus and all his apostles were Jews. I believe that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses Israel will be cursed. I want America to continue to be blessed.

Nevertheless, even in the church, this is sometimes sadly unpopular. It’s shocking to be criticized for supporting Israel by some fellow Christians. I’ve also been criticized for working with my Jewish partner in our magnificent Root & Branch program. People have actually asked if I know that Jesus was killed by Jews, why I am working with a Jew.

Such beliefs are theologically unfounded. When Christians accuse Jews of killing Jesus, I feel sad that they have no understanding of who Jesus was and what his mission was. Jesus gave his life to save us from sin and reveal unconditional love. His death was because of our sin. John 10:17-18 affirms this.

When challenged about working with a Jew, I wonder if anyone ever challenged Paul preaching the gospel, being asked, “Yeah, but do you know Jesus was a Jew?”

Actually, Paul teaches us what the proper relationship is with the Jews. In Romans 11, we are instructed not to be arrogant and consider ourselves superior to the Jews, but that we have been grafted into God’s covenant that God made with the Jewish people.

Christians and Jews should always stand together and not let the enemy’s deceit and lies create division among us. To radical Muslims, Jews and Christians are all infidels.

Today, millions of Iranians stand with Israel, knowing what Americans must know too: that the evil Islamic regime hijacked their country and that the Islamic regime is the enemy of the world. As an Iranian American Christian, working with my Jewish partner to build bridges between Jews and Christians embodies what fellow conservative Christians ought to understand. If we truly put America First, we must put destroying its enemies first, too. We must support Israel in fighting against our enemies. We must be vigilant in exposing our enemies’ deceptions in our country.

We all want peace, but there will be no peace as long as we have enemies who are determined to destroy us.

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