Tag Archives: Iran

News

U.S. Adds Forces in Persian Gulf, a Signal to Iran – NYTimes.com

The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf beyond it, as seen from the International Space Station in 2003. Iran is to the right. NASA, via Associated Press

By Thom Shanker, Eric Schmitt and David E. Sanger
Published: July 3, 2012

WASHINGTON — The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz and to increase the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.

“The message to Iran is, ‘Don’t even think about it,’ ” …

Read More: U.S increases Forces, a Signal to Iran –

Spirituality & Health

Christian Persecution in the Middle East

Christmas is a difficult time for the church in Muslim nations. It is often when authorities will clamp down on the churches, and when individuals will attack believers in their communities. Christmas 2011 has been no exception.

Since Mubarak was removed from power in Egypt the Christian community in Egypt have found themselves in an increasingly dangerous position, as Islamic fundamentalist groups seek to destroy the remnant of Christianity within Egypt (before the rise of Islam, Egypt was a Christian nation). At the end of the year in southern Egypt a young Christian man was arrest after a drawing of the prophet Muhammad was posted on his Facebook page. The 17 year old denies doing this, saying his friends posted the image. Whatever the truth may be, Muslims in his home town have reacted angrily retaliating by setting fire to the homes of other Christians in the town. Egypt like many other Muslim nations has strict Blasphemy laws; often used to detain Christians, or as justification for violence against Christians.

In Iran 2011 saw a crack down on church activity, in particular upon converts from Islam. The crack down was intensified over the Christmas period, when pastors were arrested, and churches raided. In one incident even the children were initially detained by police. One man, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, has been sentenced to death for refusing to denounce his faith.

Christians detained in Iran can find themselves in the countries infamous Evin Prison, notorious for it’s brutality and harsh conditions. One woman lately released after nearly a year in detention, has been left unwell due to the harsh conditions she experienced- this is not uncommon.

However, the worst violence this Christmas against Christian’s in the region has been in the predominantly Muslim Northern Nigeria. Nigeria has seen churches destroyed and Christian’s killed, in an al-Qaeda lead offensive, with the objective of forcing all Christians to leave the region.

These places are spiritually dark. The devil delights in the spilling of innocent blood, and he has captured these people into the lie of thinking they are doing the will of God by attacking, and killing followers of Jesus. Many of these places were once Christian nations; Egypt was taken for Islam as Muslims settled in the region and had bigger families than the Christians, until they were the majority, since then the Christian minority have been oppressed.

When the mantle comes into Europe, we often see God moving in these Middle Eastern countries too; pray as Prophet TV comes into Europe that the small Middle Eastern church will be strengthened and that Sons of God will be raised up in these regions also.

 

News

IRAN ENRICHING URANIUM TO HIGHER LEVELS THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

The West and Israel have believed for a long time that Iran are seeking to build a nuclear bomb.

It should not come as a surprise that Iran have enriched their uranium to a higher level then they had previously said.

Iran have said this is due to an “error”.

Prophet TV has taught previously that the Iranian administration in Tehran believe they are appointed by Allah to bring about the reign of the Mahdi.

The Mahdi is a messianic figure within Islam.

They believe he will be revealed at a time of great distraction when Israel is destroyed.

Despite Obama’s assurances to stand by Israel, many still believe Israel will attack Iran in a bid to stop them achieving their goal of a nuclear device.

If Israel attacks Iran, it would likely leave her even more isolated, as Obama and most of Europe are against military action being taken against Iran by Israel, so who will stand with her?

Religion

Iran Warns of Coming “Great Event”

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Iran has hosted a World Conference to mark the anniversary of the Arab Spring. At the conference the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei addressed over 600 youth from across the Middle East. He told them that, “the Zionists and the Great Satan (America) will soon be defeated”.

He went on to urge them to be vigilant, that there is a “great event coming”. Khamenei and the President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, believe they have been called by Allah to usher in the reign of the Mahdi, or 12th Imam. The Mahdi is a messianic type figure in Islam, who is said to appear during an Armageddon type war, in which Israel and her allies are destroyed.

Iran have refused to give up on their nuclear program and made no secret of their hatred for Israel and America.

 

News

Iran Threatens to Halt EU Oil Supply

Iran Threatens to Halt EU Oil Supply

After the EU and America decided on an oil embargo against Iran, over it’s nuclear program, the war of words intensifying. The EU decided on an embargo starting in July. However, Tehran are looking at stopping oil exports of EU companies immediately. Many of these companies are already in a perilous financial situation due to the Debt Crisis in Europe. The oil in question is part of a buyback scheme which the Iranian Oil Industry favors, and is oil which is owed to these companies. If Iran went ahead, China would buy the oil they refused to send to Europe.

Iran is also threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz, where about 20% of the world oil is transported, making it the most important oil transportation sea route.

Without a satisfactory conclusion of this matter there could be serious financial implications for the global economy.

News

Iran’s Army Prepare for War

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The Iranian Revolutionary Guard have been placed on a war footing. Iran is again facing international pressure over it’s nuclear program, and it is now increasingly apparent that Iran will not give up it’s nuclear ambitions.

The Iranian government believe it’s nuclear program is the victim of a concerted and sustained attack from the West, beginning last year with a cyber attack directly upon it’s nuclear facilities. Iran also believe the West is responsible for two recent explosions, both military targets.

“It looks like the 21st century form of war,” said Patrick Clawson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a Washington think tank, told the Los Angeles Times. “It does appear that there is a campaign of assassinations and cyber war, as well as the semi-acknowledged campaign of sabotage.”

Iran have been hitting back by raiding the British embassy in Tehran and shooting down a US spy drone. Iran have seized computers from the British embassy, and the US security services are concerned over the loss of the spy drone.

This escalation in the region has to be taken seriously. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has openly spoken of his belief that he is God’s chosen vessel to usher in the coming of the Mahdi, an Islamic Messianic figure.

The Mahdi, or 12th Imam is prophesied to come in the midst of an apocalyptic type war, resulting in the destruction of Israel. It is little wonder that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking the threat very seriously. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel would make “the right decision at the right moment”. For Israel, an Iran with a nuclear arsenal is not an option that they will tolerate.

 

News

The Age of Cyber Warfare Beckons..

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In the last few weeks and months we have seen a string of news stories of hackers attacking various high profile government agencies, and companies across the globe. Most of these appear to be conducted by loose networks of hackers spread across different countries, many merely teenagers in their bedrooms.

However, what a few kids have been able to do should concern us all deeply. To date these groups have stolen data from Sony, hacked the IMF, Pentagon, and the Italian e-crimes department.

And now we are could be about to see something much more serious than these breaches. Last year, a computer virus was detected with a level of sophistication never before seen. The Stuxnet virus was professionally developed with the purpose of attacking the Iranian nuclear program. The virus was specifically designed to attack the centrifuges within the nuclear plants where Iran have been enriching Uranium. The cyber attack was effective, and hindered Iran’s nuclear program, for a while. Analysis of the code showed a level of sophistication only possible for a government funded virus; it is now believed to have been developed by Israel and America.

The Stuxnet code has now become available to the wider public, and although in it’s raw form it would be of little use, given the specific purpose it was designed the code could be altered and used to attack key sites in the West. For this reason Stuxnet has been called the first Cyber-weapon. Cyber security experts have been warning it is only a matter of time before a major attack happens capable of bringing down a major international corporation, or devastating key infrastructure, such as power or water supplies; even resulting in loss of life. The Department of Homeland Security said several “nation states, terrorist networks, organized criminal groups, and individuals located here in the United States” were “capable of targeting elements of the US information infrastructure to disrupt, or destroy systems upon which we depend”.

With so many major companies and governmental departments being successfully targeted by hackers, we need to pray for the protection of vulnerable agencies and companies upon which we all depend.

 

Religion

The Coming of the Mahdi?

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Within Islam there is a belief that there is a coming messianic figure, referred to as the 12th Imam or Mahdi. Although this belief is more or less universal across the sects of Islam, the Shiites have a particularly fundamental perspective on the Islamic teachings regarding the 12th Imam. And these teachings ought to be taken very seriously by the West and the Church.

Iran is a predominately Shiite nation, and the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is evangelical in his beliefs. He sees himself as called by Allah to usher in the reign of the Mahdi, and that the Mahdi will unite the Muslim world, ruling from Iraq and bringing peace. However, to bring forth his appearing, terrible destruction must first be in place, as well as the destruction of Israel. Ahmadinejad has made no secret of his hate for the West and Israel, and has spoken publicly of his desire to see “Israel wiped off the face of the map”.

Ahmadinejad now sees the recent unrest in the Middle East as “prophetic” signs that the Mahdi is near. However, intelligence also suggests that Iran have been manipulating the troubles to bring about their own agenda. Iran have been circulating videos throughout the Middle East calling on the people to rise up and over-throw their rulers, sympathizers of the Iranian regime have infiltrated these countries, like Egypt and Yemen, in a bid to seize power and make alliances with the Iran.

As previously stated, the Mahdi will only appear after the destruction of Israel, and seeing Jerusalem in Muslim hands. What are the West doing? Ahmadinejad sees America as weak at this time, and looks to capitalize on her weakness, by pressing forward with their nuclear ambitions. The Church is called to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”, however half the church is anticipating the destruction of Israel. This is especially a time for the Church to stand in the gap for Israel; and pray for America, that she will once again be a friend and ally to Jerusalem.