Iranian ex-commander - now believer in Jesus - addresses members of Knesset: 'I’m here, standing with Israel'

Just days before the streets of Tehran filled with people declaring “Death to Israel! Death to America!” to mark the anniversary of the Islamic revolution, an Iranian from that same city stood to address the Knesset in Israel with exactly the opposite message.

Many years ago, Kurosh Azadmehr (his name changed for security reasons) was a commander in the Iranian army but now he pastors a church in Europe.

Azadmehr told members of the Knesset, “I was trained by the regime, I was completely brainwashed, I was a commander… but one day, I prayed to the God of Israel, “show me the truth.” He came to me, the God of Israel, Yeshua the Mashiach [Jesus the Messiah], He changed me completely. Now I’m here, standing with Israel with a big heart, crying and standing with you until the end. I love you so much with all my heart. This is very precious for me.”

Azadmehr and his family previously lived in Israel for five years where their understanding of the Jewish roots of the Christian faith developed and their love for the people grew.

At his church in Europe, Azadmehr now leads his congregation to appreciate Israel’s appointed feasts as laid out in the Bible, and also teaches an Iranian group in the Farsi language who, like him, had to flee their homeland.

“I cannot go to visit my family, my people, and I’m very, very sorry about that,” he told the members of Knesset.

He also expressed he's sorry for the curses that Iranians have rained down on Israel. However, he remains unwavering in his convictions about the Jewish state.

Azadmehr was part of a trip organized by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) which took participants to the site of the Nova festival to the northern border, and to the Knesset.

Speaking about their time, he said, “It was an eye opening trip as it was my first time in the land after October 7. I felt the heaviness of the sadness of what has happened, but I saw glimpses of hope when we hugged the soldiers and extended the hand of reconciliation.”

The group also visited a Messianic Jewish congregation on Mount Carmel, near Haifa. Azadmehr was invited to share at the service, and said,

“Reconciliation is very important. My country for 46 years has been under a big curse because we, for 46 years, we’ve cursed this land. I want to say to all of you, on behalf of my people in Iran, on behalf of my wicked regime in Iran, on behalf of my family, I want to tell you, Jewish people, forgive me, reconciliation, forgive me, I want to bring the blessing back to my country. Enough curses! Enough! Please forgive me. I love you so much.”

Azadmehr, like John Ghanim from Yemen, believes that the culture of cursing Israel which is endemic in his homeland has resulted in the country being cursed in return, as the Bible warns in Genesis 12:2.

Both Azadmehr and Ghanim are now dedicated to encouraging their countrymen and women to bless Israel instead of pronouncing curses, in order to bring restoration and a better future for Iran and Yemen.

Azadmehr ended his short address to the Carmel Assembly by giving the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 and pronouncing peace over the gathered people – first in Hebrew, then English, then in the Farsi language:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”