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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Excerpt from Connecting the Dots: A Handbook of Bible Prophecy





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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 April 1, 2013


Iran said advancing ‘at murderous pace,’ could have bomb by July

Mar. 29, 2013 - Unnamed security sources, said to be close to Netanyahu’s talks with Obama, complain that the Israeli government was misled by President Obama's view that there is still plenty of time before Iran has nuclear weapons. They told the Israeli daily Maariv,
“The Iranians aren’t messing around after North Korea. What Kim Jong Un has Ahmadinejad has... At the end of 2012 the Iranians carried out a simulation of a nuclear explosion and since then have been advancing at a murderous pace every day.”
Source: Times of Israel
What should the U.S. be doing to stop Iran? My interview w/fmr CIA Director James Woolsey - Joel Rosenberg

Prophetic Significance of Iran


'64% of Americans want military action to stop Iran'

Mar. 25, 2013 - A new poll reveals that people in the US believe we might need to use military action against Iran.
The Pew Research Center poll conducted March 13-17 found that 64 percent of Americans agree that it is "more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons even if it means taking military action."
Only 24 percent thought it would be better to avoid military conflict even if Iran does develop nuclear weapons.
Source: Jerusalem Post



Bolton: Iran planning 'whole arsenal' of nukes

Mar. 24, 2013 - Former UN Ambassador John Bolton warns that it may be true that Iran's first nuclear weapon may be a year away in development, but that is because they are not intimidated by the United States.
"Iran is building a very broad and deep nuclear weapons program that, as time goes on, will put them in a position to build many, many nuclear weapons ... not one or two nuclear weapons but a whole arsenal of them.”
Source: WND

Iran's leader threatens to level cities if Israel attacks, criticizes US nuclear talks

Mar.21, 2013 - In a speech today Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Israel was too small to be considered an enemy of Iran, and if they should attack Iran the "Islamic Republic will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground." He added that the U.S. is their real enemy: the "center of animosity" toward the Islamic republic.
Source: Fox

Revealed! Evidence Iran crossed nuclear 'red line'

Mar. 21,, 2013 - A high-ranking intelligence officer in Iran has revealed another significant nuclear facility, unknown to the West, where work is being done to perfect nuclear warheads.
The site, approximately 14 miles long and 7.5 miles wide, consists of two facilities built deep into a mountain along with a missile facility that is surrounded by barbed wire, 45 security towers and several security posts.
the facility is named Quds (Jerusalem), and it is located about 15 miles from the Fordow nuclear facility that was just made known in 2009.
Source: Rhza Kahlili - WND
BREAKING: Secret Iranian nuclear site previously unknown to Western intelligence revealed. Has Iran crossed the “red line”? - Joel Rosenberg Blog
Update Mar. 25, 2013 - Iran confirms secret nuclear 'Quds' site - WND

White House lowers expectations ahead of Obama's Middle East trip

Mar. 18, 2013 - President Obama will visit Israel on Wednesday to try to improve his relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The major issues to be discussed are the furtherance of the efforts by Israeli and Palestinian leaders to reach a peace agreement and how to cope with Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
The centerpiece of Obama's visit will be a speech in Jerusalem to an audience mainly of Israeli students. It's part of the president's effort to appeal to the Israeli public, particularly young people.
Source: Fox

Iran reportedly launches destroyer in the Caspian Sea

Mar. 17, 2013 - Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated Iran's first major warship in the Caspian Sea, the Jamaran-2, a guided missile destroyer.
"The destroyer is there to meet those who want to jeopardize the security of surrounding nations," he said, without elaborating.
Source: Fox

Iran nuclear weapon over a year away, says Obama

Mar. 15, 2013 - President Obama will visit Iran next week. He told reporters on Israel's Channel 2 that it may take Iran about a year to produce nuclear weapons.
"We think that it would take over a year or so for Iran to actually develop a nuclear weapon but obviously we don't want to cut it too close," Mr Obama said.
Source: BBC

Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline defies US

Mar. 11, 2013 - A 485-mile gas pipeline will link Iran and Pakistan in the near future. It will be a financial relief to both countries, but it will apparently violate US sanctions against Iran's nuclear development.
Source: BBC

‘If Iran reaches critical point in nuke drive, Israel will attack’

Mar. 8, 2013 - General James Mattis is retiring this month as head of the US army’s Central Command, including the Middle East and North Africa. In a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee he was asked by Senator Lindsey Graham if he believed Israel would conduct a pre-emptive strike against Iran if their nuclear program reaches a critical point. He answered, “The Israelis have said so; I take them at their word.” He also indicated Israel could do it without the help of the U.S.
Source: Times of Israel

IAEA chief: Can't report progress in Iran nuclear talks

Mar. 4, 2013 - At the close of lengthy talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the United States, China, France, Russia, Britain and Germany offered modest sanctions relief to Iran in return for their cooperation in curbing its most sensitive nuclear work. However, Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned that he was "unable to report any progress" in the organization's talks with Iran over its atomic program." In particular, Iran will not allow the IAEA to visit Parchin, a key site for their nuclear development
The IAEA's priority is to be able to inspect Parchin, a sprawling site southeast of the capital Tehran, where it believes Iran built an explosives chamber to carry out tests, possibly a decade ago. Iran denies this.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Netanyahu says Iran using nuclear talks to "buy time" for bomb - Reuters
Iran orders terrorists: Prepare for war - WND

Resolution would promise US aid if Israel forced to hit Iran

Mar. 1, 2013 - A
A bipartisan group of senators on Thursday sponsored a resolution committing the US government to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and vowing that if Israel attacks Iran in self-defense, the United States will assist its ally.
The chief sponsors of the non-binding resolution, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D- NJ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), say that the measure will be a warning to Iran not to acquire nuclear weapons.
Source: Times of Israel

‘Obama to tell Netanyahu US gearing up for Iran strike’

Feb. 26, 2013 - An Israeli TV report claimed that President Barack Obama will tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a “window of opportunity” for a military strike on Iran will open in June. He will apparently suggest that Israel keep a low profile between now and then, and let diplomatic negotiations proceed with Iran. US Secretary of State John Kerry said,
The window for a diplomatic solution simply cannot remain open forever... there is only time if Iran makes the decision to come to the table and to negotiate in good faith.
Source: Times of Israel

Netanyahu: Iran closer than ever to nuclear bomb

Feb. 22, 2013 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran is very close to producing nuclear weapons. An IAEA report confirms that Iran has installed 180 new centrifuges at their main uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.
Netanyahu termed the report “very grave,” and said it proved that Iran was moving swiftly toward the red line he had set out at the United Nations in September.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Radiation leaking from Iran's [Fordo] nuke plant - WND

Found! Iran's secret ballistic missile base

Feb. 21, 2013 - A previously secret ballistic missile base in Iran’s Semnan Province has some 50 underground missile silos housing Shahab 3 missles with biological warfare wepons. It is said that the weapons, which are under the control of the Revolutionary Guard, could be used in a pre-emptive strike against Irans enemies.
It has developed eight microbial agents, including anthrax, plague, smallpox and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), with some of the microbes genetically altered to leave the world defenseless against such an attack.
Source: WND

Netanyahu: N. Korea proof that sanctions won't stop Iran

Feb. 18, 2013 -
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday stated that sanctions on Iran would not stop its nuclear program, pointing to North Korea as an example of the failure of sanctions to halt a country's pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu said that there must be a credible military threat or Iran will continue its dangerous drive to obtain nuclear weapons. Speaking to the Jewish Agency's Board of Governors, he also called for a return by the Palestinians to peace talks, but without preconditions.
Source: Jerusalem Post
'Iranian nuclear chief observed Korean nuke test' - Jerusalem Post
Khamenei says US couldn't stop Iran getting bomb - France 24

Iran mourns slain senior military commander

Feb. 15, 2013 - Gen. Hassan Shateri, the commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, was killed this week on the road between Damascus and Beirut.
Guards spokesman Gen. Ramazan Sharif was quoted by Fars as saying "mercenaries and supporters" of Israel were responsible.
Source: Yahoo
Iran vows to exact revenge on Israel over killing of commander in Syria - NBC

Iran ordered banned materials to expand nuclear program fivefold, report says

Feb. 14, 2013 - Last year Iran tried attempted to buy 100,000 ring-shaped magnets from China to use in their centrifuges. UN resolutions have banned these magnets from export to Iran because they would be used to hasten the development of their nuclear weapons program. It is not known whether or not the magnets were actually delivered.
Source: Haaretz
Iran: U.N. nuke inspectors are spies - WND

Talks between UN nuclear watchdog and Iran begin in Tehran

Feb. 13, 2013 - Talks are underway in Tehran between representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iranian nuclear officials. the IAEA wants access to suspect documents and entry to the Parchin military base, where nuclear weapons parts have allegedly been tested. If they could make progress it would have a favorable effect on nuclear negotiations with the six world powers later this month in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Source: Haaretz

Officials: Obama coming to Israel to prevent strike on Iran

Feb. 10, 2013 - Last September at the United Nations Prime Minister Netanyahu suggested that the spring of 2013 would be a significant time for dealing with Iran's nuclear weapons development. Unnamed officials told Israeli Army Radio that President Obama's upcoming urgent trip to Israel is to follow up a message he has already sent to Netanyahu. The message was,
"Don't attack Iran, let me handle matters with the Iranians according to my understanding, and if necessary I will take action, we have capabilities that you do not."
Netanyahu told his cabinet that Obama has said the focus of the meeting will be on three central issues: Iran's nuclear and space program, Syria's instability, and progress with the diplomatic process with the Palestinians.
Source: Jerusalem Post

Khamenei rejects US offer for face to face talks

Feb. 7, 2013 - Talks between Iran and the EU's top diplomat representing six world powers including the U.S. have not been productive in the past. However, last week Vice President Joe Biden suggested that it might be time for direct high-level talks with Iran since they face "the most robust sanctions in history" to keep them from developing nuclear weapons. However Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rold a news source, "Negotiations will not solve anything,"
Source: Jerusalem Post
Ahmadinejad: We're Nuclear But Won't Harm Israel - NewsMax

Iran's Ahmadinejad on historic visit to Cairo

Feb. 5, 2013 - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is visiting Egypt today. It is the first time an Iranian leader has made this trip since 1979. Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi gave him a red-carpet welcome on the tarmac at Cairo airport. Egypt is hosting an Islamic summit.
In September, Morsi offered a package of incentives to Tehran to end its support for Assad. The proposal included the restoration of full diplomatic ties.
Source: USA Today

Report: IAF strike in Syria hit Iranian Guards

Feb. 1, 2013 - After about 48 hours the apparent truth about Israel's attact in Syria came to light through an Iraqi newspaper. It quoted a Western diplomatic source, that claimed the operation caused heavy casualties among special Iranian Guards stationed at the Syrian research facility.
The source also said that the base was heavily fortified and contained experts from Russia and at least three thousand Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who have been guarding the site for years. Many of these Iranian Guards suffered casualties.
Israel used F-16 aircraft to fire at least eight guided missiles at the facility.
Source: Jerusalem Post

Hezbollah, Russia condemn Israeli airstrike inside Syria

Jan. 31, 2013 - There are conflicting reports about claims that Israel executed air strikes yesterday against a target on the border between Syria and Lebanon. First unoficial reports said the target was a convoy of anti-aircraft missiles on its way to Lebanon or a military facility involved in chemical weapons production.

Israel and the U.S. have made no official comment. Either scenario was a possibility, but Anthony Cordesman, a senior analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that Syria may simply be blaming Israel for the loss of a facility that had fallen to rebels or been destroyed by other means. They questioned whether Israel would actually attack a site where chemical weapons were stored.

Hezbollah condemned the airstrike as “barbaric aggression.” They are supporters of the Syrian government.
The Associated Press reported. Russia, Syria’s chief patron, said the strike would constitute “unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the U.N. Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it.”
Source: Washington Post
Syria and Iran threaten to retaliate against Israel for air raid near Damascus - Fox
Iran threatens ‘grave consequences’ for Israel after Syria strike - Times of Israel
US official: Israel notified us about Syria attack - Times of Israel
Syria warns of 'surprise' response to Israeli strike - Jerusalem Post
Khamenei aide: Attack on Syria is an attack on Iran - Jerusalem Post

Mystery over 'explosion' at Iran's Fordow nuclear site

Jan. 29, 2013 - Officials from Iran and Israel claim to have no knowledge of a reported explosion at Iran's Fordo underground nuclear development facility. The story was reported by WND a few days ago, and they are now giving more detail to their exclusive story. Israeli authorities agree that such an explosion is possible and would be beneficial to Israel's position. However, they point out that it could be an untrue story, deliberately leaked by Iran, to postpone allowing UN inspectors to enter the facility.
Source: Telegraph - UK
New details surface on Iran nuclear explosion - WND
Kissinger: US on Brink of Nuclear Crisis with Iran - NewsMax Update: Feb. 4, 2013 -
North Koreans among 40 dead at Iran nuke plant - WND

'Iran would definitely use nuclear weapon on Israel'

Dec. 25, 2013 - Mohammed Razza Hidar, a former representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told Israel's Channel 2 television that if Iran had a nuclear bomb "it would definitely use it against Israel or against any other enemy state." He also claimed that Venezuela provides uranium for Iran's nuclear program.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Peres: Iran resolved to ‘rule over the Middle East’ - Times of Israel

Sabotage! Key Iranian nuclear facility hit?

Jan. 25, 2013 - Fordow, the underground uranium enrichment site in Iran, suffered a large explosion on Monday. The blast did extensive damage and trapped about 240 people. Sabotage is suspected.
The regime’s uranium enrichment process takes place at two known sites: the Natanz facility with more than 10,000 centrifuges and Fordow with more than 2,700. The regime currently has enough low-grade (3.5 percent) uranium stockpiled for six nuclear bombs.
Source: WND

UN-Iran Talks Fail To Allay Fears Of Islamic State's Nuclear Ambitions

Jan. 18, 2013 - The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met with Iranian officials on Jan. 16 and 17 in Tehran, trying to negotiate an agreement with Iran that would give the inspectors access to sites, officials and documents for their investigation. The talks apparently failed again, but they say they are planning to hold another meeting on Feb. 12. If the talks had been a success the IAEA would be able to resume their inquiry about their suspected development of nuclear weapons.
Source: NewsMax

Will this be the year that Israel goes to war with Iran?

Jan. 4, 2013 - Israel postponed a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities last year, but it expects the "red line" to be drawn in the middle of the year. Political uncertainty in Iran will be caused by the ending of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency in June and the replacement of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatolah Ali Khamenei.

Analysts think that it could be the U.S. that leads an attack if its own "red line," which has not been defined, is crossed. It is thought that Israel is not able to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities. If the U.S. does take action there is little doubt that Congress would back the effort.

The door is clearly open to the Iranians, if they want to come in from the cold of sanctions and isolation. If they fail to do so, and continue to buck the international community, war in 2013 is likely.
Source: Daniel Serwer - Reuters Blog
Iran's nuclear bomb program complete - WND
Iran: Nuclear negotiations to be held this month - Jerusalem Post

See earlier Articles: before Jan. 1, 2013






















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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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