Why is no one talking about this? The biggest news in missions is taking place and information about how it impacts politics, economies, and missions can’t be found anywhere.
The first freight train from China to Tehran is said to already be in operation, completely changing everything in the Middle East. This new corridor linking China to Iran was inaugurated recently, with its first delivery arriving in Iran on June 1st, changing the way business is done.
This new trade route uses the ancient Silk Road that is so prominent in the Back to Jerusalem vision to connect Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, to Kazakhstan, traversing through Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with the ability to make stops in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – all the way to Iran.
What makes this land route so significant is that it bypasses the 30-40 day sea route that is controlled by international rules and sanctions passed by the United Nations and enforced by the United States, to use the Back to Jerusalem Silk Road that cuts the travel time down to 15 days by rail.
This new route significantly increases trade, political cooperation, and international connection for both China and Iran. For Iran, the BTJ Silk Road means more oil from Iran to China with very little oversight from the international community. For missionaries reaching unreached people groups in the 10/40 Window, this means a significant increase in access to Muslim nations that have been unaccessible for generations.
While the core focus of the China-Iran governments is to bypass the US Naval controlled Straights of Malacca, the reality is that the freight trains also have ongoing projects and proposals to expand and improve the rail network from simply freight of goods to transportation of passengers. There is already projects underway like the Khaf-Herat railway connecting Iran to Afghanistan, and other high-speed rail lines that would open up the way for more passengers to travel between the two nations. China has been investing heavily in Iranian infrastructure as part of the One Belt One Road Initiative with a massive investment of $400 billion.
The truth is, traditional trade in China is hurting. Traditional trade in Iran is in the dumps. Both nations need a new strategy to break away from the sanctions and tariffs the US, EU, and international community has imposed. This new China-Iran railway is happening in the two nations experiencing massive revivals and hopes to be more than just a trade route. Ultimately, it aims to reshape the flow of missionaries to the most closed nations on earth during end times.
