Iran

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has been the champion of the Shi'ite branch of Islam. Now their leadership harbors a deep hatred for the United States, whom they call "The Great Satan," and Israel, "The Little Satan."

Even though they have immense supplies of oil, they have claimed to need nuclear power as well. It is now admitted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, that their goal is the development of nuclear weapons. At the beginning of 2012 experts believe that it will take only a year or less for them to become a deadly threat to Israel, the Middle East, and United States.

Iran figures prominently in Bible prophecy because they are the direct descendants of the Persians, who are mentioned in Ezekiel 38 as key allies of Magog, a powerful nation in the North that many prophecy scholars have tentatively identified as Russia. Together with other nations, these allies will engage Israel in a future war against Israel. See The War of Gog and Magog.

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Current Events

Prophetic Significance of Iran

See also:
War of Gog and Magog
Middle East Conflict
The New Cold War
Russia

Notice: Sources often remove their news links after a period of time. Some of them move older stories to a subscription-only section. Even if the story is no longer on line, our summary will still be available on this page.

Names translated from other languages may have different spelling, depending on the source.


See more recent articles: After December 31, 2013


Iran develops new generation of uranium centrifuges

Dec. 27, 2013 - Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, announced a new generation of improved uranium centrifuges. They already have 19,000 centrifuges. He said that Iran is proud to be one of the few countries that can produce nuclear fuel from start(discovery and mining) to finish (enrichment).
Thursday’s announcement came following a push by a significant number of Iranian lawmakers to legislate the enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity — 12 times the cap Iran agreed ... in November.
Source: Times of Israel

Prophetic Significance of Iran


Experts Thrash Out Workings of Iran Nuclear Deal

Dec. 10, 2013 - Iran is meeting with representatives from Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany — the P5+1 — to determine how and when the agreements reached in November will be implemented.
In particular the two-day Vienna meeting aimed to nail down the start date of Iran's promised six-month nuclear freeze, how this will be monitored and when sanctions will be eased.
On Wednesday Iran will have a separate meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency to address additional concerns about their nuclear program.
Source: NewsMax
Iran, six powers meet on steps to carry out nuclear deal - REuters
Poll: Americans Disapprove of Iran Nuclear Deal - NewsMax
Iran's charm offensive belies mounting body count from executions at home - Fox
US lawmakers to introduce bill on new Iran sanctions soon - Jerusalem Post



Netanyahu says nuke negotiators must demand Iran change 'genocidal policy'

Dec. 9, 2013 - At a forum on U.S.-Israel relations hosted by the Brookings Institution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded attendees that Iran is committed to Israel's destruction. Therefore negotiators in the next round of talks with Iran must demand that Iran "change its genocidal policy" toward the Jewish state.

At the same forum a day earlier President Obama also expressed skepticism about the talks.

"If you ask me what is the likelihood that we're able to arrive at the end state ... I wouldn't say that it's more than 50-50," Obama said. "But we have to try."

Source: Fox
Iran Announces Refusal to Recognize Israel at United Nations Session - The Algemeiner
Israel’s fateful decision - A cost-benefit analysis points to an attack on Iran’s plutonium reactor - S. Fred Singer - Washington Times

Israel's new focus on the Iran nuclear deal

Dec. 2, 2013 - What will Israel do now that Iran has a temporary arrangement that stops it short of developing a nuclear weapon but leaves its capability to do so intact? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will apparently now wage a diplomatic campaign to influence the eventual outcome. Meanwhile he will maintain Israel's ability to deal with this most serious threat to their national security.
Source: The Guardian
Netanyahu: I will not 'shut up' when Israel's interests are at stake - Jerusalem Post
Israel's Netanyahu Meets With Pope; Talks Tough on Iran - NewsMax
Rohani: Iran will not dismantle nuclear sites - YNetNews
Fmr. senior Israeli official writes oped for New York Times: “A Most Dangerous Deal: The Iran Agreement Does Not Address the Nuclear Threat.” - Joel Rosenberg
Kerry: Israel's security at the top of US agenda in Iran nuclear talks - Jerusalem Post
P5+1 talks on Iran’s nukes to resume on Monday - New negotiations, to be held this time in Vienna, still won’t finalize arrangements for implementing last month’s interim deal - Times of Israel

Netanyahu Vows to Cast Out 'Darkness' of Iran Nuke Program

Nov. 29, 2013 - Unhappy with the outcome of talks between Iran and six leading nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that, "The largest darkness that threatens the world today is a nuclear Iran.”
“We are bound to do all we can to prevent this darkness. If possible we will do this diplomatically, if not we will act as a light unto the nations.”
Source: NewsMax
'Washington Post': White House omitting facts about Iran nuclear deal - Jerusalem Post
Netanyahu orders Mossad to expose Iranian breaches of interim deal - Prophecy Central's Iran Section

Trust Iran? What are we – stupid?

Nov. 26, 2013 - Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said that the West wasted a golden opportunity to demand major Iranian concessions.
“This is something that should have been exploited. If the international community, and particularly the United States, were decisive enough, this was a regime that you could have actually forced ...to abandon their entire program.”
Since Iran has repeatedly ignored United Nations Security Council sanctions, groups like the NCRI feel that Iran simply cannot be trusted to honor any agreement.
Source: WND
Bachmann uncorks on Obama, Armageddon - WND
Obama defends Iran nuclear deal from chorus of critics - Fox
Israel sends team to US for Iran talks - Telegraph
Lindsey Graham: Nuke Deal Leaves Iran 'On the Verge' of Making Weapons - NewsMax
Ex-U.N. inspector: Deal leaves Iran 2 months from bomb - WND

Israel Renews Warnings of Military Action After Iran Nuclear Deal

Nov. 24, 2013 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that the Geneva nuclear deal with Iran was a big mistake and Israel will not be bound by it. He said,
“Israel has the right to protect itself in the face of any threat. I wish to reiterate that as the Prime Minister of Israel — Israel will not allow Iran to develop nuclear military capabilities.”
Source: TIME

Obama hails Iran nuclear deal
as
Netanyahu slams 'historic mistake'

Nov. 24, 2013 - The Geneva meeting of six world powers about Iran's nuclear program extended the time allotted for talks and finally produced a compromise agreement that President Obama called “first step toward a comprehensive solution." Iran will be able to keep its centrifuges and other physical aspects of its program, but will have to limit its uranium production to 5 percent enrichment and neutralize its stockpile of near 20 percent enriched uranium. In exchange, sanctions will be eased on Iran's exports, allowing them to sell some $4.2 billion of oil. The deal is only good for six months.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said that the agreement "makes a nuclear Iran more, not less, likely," and called the deal "a blow to our allies in the region."

Iran is pleased with the deal. Conservative U.S. lawmakers say it is "too little, too late." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a historic mistake. He told his Cabinet that the world had become a "more dangerous place" as a result of the deal, and once again he warned that Israel "has the right and the duty to defend itself by itself."

Source: Fox
Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton: 'Abject Surrender by US' - American Thinker
US, Iran nuclear deal spurs bipartisan concern in Congress - Fox
Iran's President Rouhani says nuclear deal with West allows Iran to enrich uranium - Jerusalem Post
Obama to call Netanyahu to 'assuage Israeli concerns' regarding Iran deal - Jerusalem Post

Kerry, Western FMs arrive in Geneva to push for Iran nuclear deal

Nov. 23, 2013 - As talks in Geneva about Iran's nuclear program appear to be reaching some agreement, Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers of five other world powers have joined the discussion.
The Chinese, Russian, French, British and German foreign ministers - Wang Yi, Sergei Lavrov, Laurent Fabius, William Hague and Guido Westerwelle - all pulled up their sleeves to try to seal an interim deal under which Iran would cap its nuclear activity.
Iran expects to gain limited relief from sanctions.

Statements from the French and British foreign ministers indicate that there are still serious gaps in their agreement that will need to be worked out.

Source: Jerusalem Post
US senators threaten Iran nuclear talks with call for new sanctions at ‘crucial’ stage - Russian Times
Haaretz: Netanyahu forced to accept interim deal with Iran - CSM

Nuclear talks hit standstill as Iran demands right to enrich uranium, sanctions relief

Nov. 22, 1013 - No reportable progress was made during the second day of talks in Geneva about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The Iranian diplomats kept up an incessant stream of quotes throughout the day in which they insisted that the interim agreement due to be signed in Geneva must include a written recognition of their right to enrich uranium.
The Iranians are also asking for easing of sanctions on their oil trade and banking
Source: Haaretz
“We are not bluffing.” Israel ready to strike Iran alone, says Netanyahu’s outgoing national security advisor. - Joel Rosenberg
Uncertainty in Geneva on Iran leads to tough talk in Washington - Jerusalem Post
Israel Fails to Move Russia on Iran Nuclear Talks - Voice of America
US issues belated condemnation of Khamenei after Israeli protest - [Iran] spitting in the face of the enlightened world, not just Israel, but the world remains silent, thinking it is rain. - Jerusalem Post
Iran Launches ‘Massive’ War Drills - codenamed “Towards Jerusalem,” - Washington Free Beacon
U.S. officials condemn Khamenei's 'abhorrent' remarks on Israel - Haaretz

Iran says enrichment 'not negotiable' as Geneva nuclear talks begin

Nov. 21, 2013 - As six world powers - the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany - begin another round of talks with Iran about its nuclear program, Iran says it will only reach an agreement that allows it to continue enriching uranium "from start to finish." Iran's chief negotiator, Abbas Araguchi, said that Iran could discuss volumes, levels and locations but "the principle of enrichment is not negotiable."
Mr. Araghchi told state television that the main obstacle to agreement was a "lack of trust because of what happened at the last round" - referring to November talks when world powers toughened up the terms of a draft deal.
Source: Telegraph - UK
Netanyahu 'promises' Iran will not get nuclear weapons - Jerusalem Post

Iranian Supreme Leader: Israel 'Doomed to Collapse'

Nov. 20, 2013 - In the past Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called Israel an "illegitimate and bastard regime." Now, on the eve of renewed negotiations with Iran about their nuclear program, he declared that Israel is a "regime doomed to collapse."
Khamenei called Israel "the rabid dog of the region" and claimed Israel poses a threat to the world, not Iran.
Source: Israel National News
Iran nuclear talks: Tehran 'will not step back one iota' - BBC
France says Iran comments on Israel complicate nuke talks - Times of Israel
US Jewish leaders feel misled by White House over Iran deal - Times of Israel
Minister Bennett: Now is Most Fateful Time for Israel Since Yom Kippur War - The Algemeiner

Former Security Chief: Israel Can Hit Iran Nuke Facilities at Will

Nov. 19, 2013 - Former Israeli National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror told the Financial Times that Israel is able to set back Iran’s nuclear program “for a very long time.”
Israeli pilots have spent years practicing long-range flights to prepare for the possibility of an military operation against Iran, he said. Asked whether Israel military capabilities included strikes against underground sites, Amridror replied “including everything."
He said that Israel is a sovereign nation that does not need anyone's permission to defend itself. Israel is not bluffing. It knows that it "might have to defend itself by itself.”
Source: NeswMax
Amid rising tensions, Kerry postpones visit to Israel - Times of Israel

In Israel, Hollande says France won’t waver on Iran

Nov. 18, 2013 - French President Francois Hollande was given a hero's welcome in Israel when he arrived yesterday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
“France will not make concessions on nuclear proliferation,” Hollande pledged during a ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport, upon his arrival. “France will maintain all its measures and sanctions until we are certain that Iran has renounced nuclear weapons.”
Netanyahu praised Hollande for his dedication to the Jewish state and said that if Iran does obtain nuclear arms it will not only endanger Israel, but also "France, Europe and the entire world."
Source: Times of Israel
Obama on Defensive as Israel, Democrats Line Up Against Iran Deal - NewsMax

Report: Mossad working with Saudis on contingency plans for potential attack on Iran

Nov. 17, 2013 - According to the Sunday Times Israel's Mossad and Saudi officials are collaborating on plans for a potential attack against Iran if this week's negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers fail to curb Iran's nuclear development program.
“Once the Geneva agreement is signed, the military option will be back on the table. The Saudis are furious and are willing to give Israel all the help it needs,” the Times quoted the source as saying.
The Saudis are said to have already given its consent for Israel to use their airspace for an attack on Iran, and to cooperate on the use of drones, rescue helicopters and tanker planes.

In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the world should take note of this rare “meeting of the minds” between Israel and the “leading states in the Arab world” on the Iran issue. He said this may be the first case of such agreement in modern times.

Source: Jerusalem Post
Netanyahu hosts Kerry, French President as Iran Talks Resume - Prophecy Central's Israel Section

World powers, Iran may reach nuclear deal next week, says top U.S. official

Nov. 16, 2013 - Iran has apparently slowed down its production of uranium, but it is not known if this is a sign of cooperation or a maintenance issue. Talks are set to resume next week between world powers (Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States) and Iran.
Nevertheless, the world powers have asked Congress to refrain from imposing new sanctions on Iran while the negotiations are in progress, the official said. The U.S. administration believes that new sanctions would spur Iran's nuclear development.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended France's President Francois Hollande for blocking an unsatisfactory agreement on the issue last week.
Source: Haaretz
Netanyahu tweet urges West to avoid 'bad deal' over Iran nuclear program - Fox

New Iran sanctions could push U.S. toward war, White House warns

Nov. 14, 2013 - Discussions between international leaders (U.S., France, China, Russia, Germany and Britain) and Iran failed to produce an agreement about stopping Iran's probable development of nuclear weapons. Another round of talks is scheduled for Nov. 20, but with lower-level officials. Israel and other Middle East nations are calling for even greater sanctions against Iran to force it to cooperate. Congressional leaders are considering the imposition of such additional sanctions.
The White House warned Congress on Tuesday that slapping new sanctions on Iran could sink international negotiations to curb Tehran’s nuclear program and send America on a “march to war.”
Source: LA Times
Iran’s top ally warns war could be coming. White House and Netanyahu issue ominously similar warnings. - Joel Rosenberg

Sunni-Shia tensions 'biggest threat to world security': Iran foreign minister Mohammad Zarif

Nov. 11, 2013 - The Syrian civil war has further divided regional powers. Shi'ite Iran is backing President Bashar al-Assad and Sunni Gulf Arab states and Turkey is assisting the rebels. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters that this sectarian tension is "the most serious security threat not only to the region but to the world at large."
Mr Zarif, a US-educated former Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, called for regional powers to come together to try to solve the conflict in Syria.
Source: Telegraph - UK

Crisis Brewing in Israeli-US Relations

Nov. 10, 2013 - In spite of the good will created by President Obama's visit to Israel earlier this year, two vital issues threaten to generate what diplomatic correspondent Chemi Shalev called a 'superstorm' of U.S.-Israeli relations." The U.S. is promoting a compromise deal with Iran that would supposedly halt it's nuclear production but not dismantle its facilities.
Israeli news reports describe Netanyahu as being in "shock" over the possible Iranian compromise. Netanyahu, who sees Iran as an arch-enemy, has vowed to do anything, including a military strike, to prevent Iran from reaching weapons capability.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also inflamed passions in Israel when he made a statement on Israeli and Palestinian TV questioning Israel's seriousness about peace with the Palestinians. This caused Netanyahu to publicly vow not to cave into concessions to the Palestinians.
Source: NewsMax
'US capitulated' on Iran deal, Jerusalem says - Israel National Hayom
Iranians angry and bewildered after French torpedo Geneva nuclear entente - The Guardian
France scuttles disastrous U.S. nuclear deal with Iran at last minute. - American delegation en route to Israel for high-level talks as crisis erupts in U.S.-Israel relations.- Joel Rosenberg
Khamenei slams French 'imprudent, inept move' to delay Iran nuclear deal - Jerusalem Post
Inaction On Iran Launches Mideast Nuclear Arms Race - Investors.com
Don't Say It Can't Be Done - There is only one way to avoid a nuclear Iran: to attack it • Any deal, bad or somewhat bad, won't change that • The IDF has already proved it can do the impossible; it can also do the unthinkable • Ultimately, we cannot trust anyone but ourselves. - Israel Hayom

US: John Kerry will head to Geneva to push Iran deal in unexpected visit

Nov. 8, 2013 - In a push to reach agreement between six world powers and Iran over their nuclear programs, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will change his own plans in order to join the discussions. President Obama has signaled a compromise with Iran by telling NBC News,
"There is the possibility of a phased agreement in which the first phase would be us, you know, halting any advances on their nuclear program ... and putting in place a way where we can provide them some very modest relief..."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Netanyahu says nuclear deal with Iran would be a 'mistake of historic proportions' - Jerusalem Post
Iranian TV airs animated strike on Tel Aviv - WND

Bolton: Israel must make 'fateful decision' on Iran strike

Nov. 4, 2013 - Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton told WABC Radio’s Aaron Klein that Israel must make “fateful decision” very soon about whether or not to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.
“I don’t think Israel has much time,” Bolton continued. “Frankly, they should have done this years ago because we all know intelligence is imperfect and Iran may have a more developed capacity than we know about, perhaps in cooperation with North Korea.”
Israel has destroyed the nuclear facilities of two hostile neighbors in the past.

Bolton also commented on a statement by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, that the U.S. has put great pressure on Iran and "may need to use military force to back up our policy.” Bolton's response was that military action against Iran simply, "Isn’t going to happen under the Obama administration."

Source: WND
Obama paying ‘lip service’ on Iran strike option, says top MK - Times of Israel
Rouhani is not 'optimistic' about Iran's nuclear talks with West - Jerusalem Post ‘Compromise will likely lead to nuclear Iran,’ says expert - Prof. Uzi Rabi says window for effective military action against Tehran's nuclear facilities has closed. - Jerusalem Post

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Gog and Magog Links

The Magog Invasion - Chuck Missler
Magog Revisited - Missler
Ezekiel 38 - Bill Konig
The Center For Security Policy
Iranium - The movie - 2011 - Order or watch online free

Excerpts from

Connecting the Dots: A Handbook of Bible Prophecy

Pages 141-142
- The Aggressors of the War of Gog and Magog - Ezekiel 38:1-4

According to Ezekiel, an alliance of enemies will attack Israel in the End Times. The leader will be Gog of the land of Magog, who is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. He is assisted by Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, Beth T ogarmah, and other nations. Most of these names are listed in the genealogies of Genesis 10. Gog is not listed in Genesis 10, but he is evidently the head of the land of Magog, who is mentioned as a son of Japheth, one of Noah's sons. It is known that Japheth traveled north from Mt. Ararat after the flood. Hesoid, a Greek writer of the 7th century BC, and contemporary of Ezekiel, identified Magog with the Scythians and southern Russia. Flavius Josephus, a 1st century Jewish historian said that Magogians were called "Scythians" by the Greeks. Philo, a 1st century Greek identified Magog with southern Russia.Commentators from the turn of this century and before have generally identified Gog and Magog with Russia even though, at the time, they could not explain why Russia would turn against God's people. They conjectured that perhaps the time would come when there would be animosity between Russia and Israel. Rosh ("head", "chief") sounds like Russia. Meshech sounds like Moscow or Mushkovi, the old name for Russia. Tubal sounds like Tobolsk.

- The Target: Israel - Ezekiel 38:2-12

This is the only time in history that this could be said of Israel, that they were brought back from many nations. It is true that they were brought back from Babylon and Persia in the Old Testament, but it is only since the Zionist movement, which began in the late 1800's, that Jewish people have returned from nations all over the world. They had been scattered abroad even in New Testament times. On the Day of Pentecost, for example, the various languages spoken by the Apostles, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, represented the many lands where they had settled. But they had not returned to stay. This really never happened until the amazing events that led to the rebirth of Israel in 1948. What thoughts would come into Russia's mind to make them want to attack Israel? A consideration of Russia's instability and the plans of some of their leaders for expansion throughout the Mediterranean area is given below. Israel has always been a key land bridge between Russia's allies and is presently an enemy of some of those allies. Any number of scenarios in the always-volatile Middle East politics could lead to a Russian attack in the future.

- Russia's Allies - Ezekiel 38:5-6

Persia is now known as Iran, and there is an amazingly close relationship now between Russia and Iran. Cush is Ethiopia, Put is Libya, Gomer and Beth Togarmah may well be Turkey and/or other Islamic nations like those once part of the Soviet Union.

It is interesting that Mizraim, the forefather of Egypt is apparently missing from this lineup. This, of course, fits the current world scene, with Egypt being the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel.

- Israel's Allies - Ezekiel 38:13

Israel's allies appear to be few and feeble. Some of Saudi Arabia was populated by Sheba and Dedan. The merchants of Tarshish could be England and English colonies. In that case, The United States could even be included since we were once an English colony. These allies ask why Russia and its allies are coming, but do not appear to deter them.

- The Outcome - Ezekiel 38:22

The quick end of this future war will be with God's judgment. It could be God's personal power, raining literal fire and brimstone, as in the days of Sodom, or it could be God using nation against nation, as he often did in the Old Testament, to precipitate a nuclear exchange.

And with pestilence and with blood I shall enter into judgment with him; and I shall rain on him, and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire, and brimstone. - Ezekiel 38:22 (NIV)

The next chapter of Ezekiel continues to give details of this great conflict. Again, it is a scene of utter destruction.

"And I shall strike your bow from your left hand, and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 4 "You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops, and the peoples who are with you; I shall give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5 "You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD. 6 "And I shall send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD." - Ezekiel 39:3-6 (NIV)

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