Unfolding prophecy

 

There is no doubt that we are witnessing the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. It is surely no coincidence that next week, the Jewish people will celebrate Purim, the festival recorded in the Book Esther recalling the victory of the Jewish people over the attempts in Persia to annihilate the Jews. The revolutionary regime in Tehran continues to threaten to annihilate Israel and the United States – the two nations in the world that defend the right of the Jewish people to live in the land, and represent respect for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is possible that in the coming days either Israel and/or the USA will attack to destroy this regime. At the same time, there is growing pressure on Israel to give up its presence in the Biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria. This is not surprising, as the prophets have stated that Jerusalem will be a “cup of trembling” for the nations. And yet we also see certain nations – like India – strengthening their ties with Israel.

Little progress made in U.S. negotiations with Iran

Iran and the United States renewed negotiations this week in Geneva. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Iranian regime officials yesterday – for the third time in recent weeks.

US President Trump has laid down clear red lines for the negotiations – Iran must agree to give up its nuclear weapons program, its ballistic missiles capabilities and international sponsorship of terror networks and proxies – all the while threatening military intervention and building up a massive military presence in the region.

The latest talks are focused on Iran’s nuclear program. According to the Wall Street Journal, the US demands that Iran dismantle its three main nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — and deliver all remaining enriched uranium to the US. Israeli officials told WSJ that the US demands that any nuclear deal with Iran last forever, rather than including sunset provisions, as was the case in the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by former US president Barack Obama.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday during a trip to St. Kitts and Nevis, Secretary of State Rubio accused Iran of continuing to pursue a nuclear weapon and said its ballistic missiles were also a major threat to US assets. Tehran’s insistence on not discussing the topic of ballistic missiles in the Geneva talks is a “big, big problem,” Rubio said, adding that he did not want to characterize the Thursday talks as anything other than “the next opportunity to talk,” even as he hoped for progress. “Hopefully they’re productive but eventually we’ll have to have conversations more than just the nuclear program,” he said.

Iran maintains it is willing to negotiate in good faith. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: “Pillared on the understandings forged in the previous round, Iran will resume talks with the U.S. in Geneva with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal—in the shortest possible time.”

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told state media earlier on Tuesday that the regime was “ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible” and that Tehran would do “whatever it takes to make this happen. We will enter the negotiating room in Geneva with complete honesty and good faith.”

 

 

Many observers are skeptical about the chances of a deal between the US and Iran. Trump has warned Iran that “bad things will happen” soon if a deal is not reached over its nuclear program. In his State of the Union address in Congress this week, Trump said that his preference was to reach a diplomatic resolution with Iran but stated that “one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror — which they are by far — to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

Iran has so far refused to comply with the US demands. According to many experts, the revolutionary regime in Tehran cannot do so without denying its very reason for existence. Some are worried that the Iranians are deliberately playing for time, and that Trump will eventually give in and agree to a compromise, deciding that the risks of military intervention are too great.

The Iranian delegation and US officials issued statements saying that the talks in Geneva were “positive” and that “further progress has been made”. However, it seems that little progress is being made towards a real agreement resolving the issues that deeply divide Iran from the US and Israel. Times of Israel reported today:

“The upbeat assessments appeared to contradict earlier reports of American disappointment over the Iranian position, as well as comments made anonymously to various Hebrew media outlets by senior Israeli officials that the gap between the sides appeared increasingly unbridgeable, and that a US strike seemed more and more likely. The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, gave a less rosy assessment on Thursday evening, describing the sides as ‘still far apart on key issues.’”

These negotiations have huge implications for Israel, which is considering the possibility of taking military action in the event the United States is unable to prevent the regime from pursuing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

There is increasing speculation of a US attack on Iran in the coming days. U.S. combat aircraft and other military assets in the region have increased significantly in recent days. The U.S. State Department today authorized the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their family members from Israel, and issued a travel warning for the Jewish state, due to “safety risks.” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reportedly sent an email to his staff at 10:24 a.m. local time saying that if they want to leave Israel, they “should do so TODAY.”

Turkey seeks to expand its influence in the region

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched an ambitious diplomatic offensive aimed at unifying the Sunni world under Ankara’s leadership. The objective is not merely reconciliation with former rivals. It is the construction of a Sunni diplomatic and strategic “wall,” or “noose,” around Israel, replacing the Iranian “Shi’ite crescent” with a new configuration of Sunni power.

Judea and Samaria

The mountains of Israel referred to by the prophets such as Ezechiel are at the center of the battle between Israel and the nations. Israel refers to them as Judea and Samaria. The United Nations denies that the Jewish people have a special connection with this land and has re-named them “the West Bank of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”.

Ever since Israel reclaimed control of Judea and Samaria in the Six Day war in 1967, it has unified the city of Jerusalem and brought it into the sovereignty of the State of Israel and allowed Jews to live in other parts of Judea and Samaria.

Israel recently announced plans to expand its “settlements” in Judea and Samaria. Last week, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that the goal of Israel’s next government would be to “encourage the migration” of Palestinians from the West Bank in addition to Gaza.

As expected, the United Nations has condemned these developments. Israel’s actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip seem aimed at creating “permanent demographic change,” UN rights chief Volker Turk says.

“Taken together, Israel’s actions appear aimed at making a permanent demographic change in Gaza and the West Bank, raising concerns about ethnic cleansing,” Turk says in a speech before the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The United Nations believes that the “occupied Palestinian territories” (Gaza, “East Jerusalem” and the “West Bank”) belong to the Palestinian people, and that Israel’s presence there has become illegal. Israel, on the other hand, believes that the whole city of Jerusalem is part of the territory of the State of Israel, and that it has the strongest legal claims to Judea and Samaria.

Israel and India deepen ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a three-day visit to Israel this week, cementing the extraordinarily strong bond between the nations. India is the most populous country and the fifth-largest economy in the world. The $3.9 trillion economy is Israel’s second-largest trading partner in Asia, after China. In 2024, bilateral trade volume between Israel and India reached about $5 billion, which included $2.5 billion in Israeli exports, $1 billion in diamond trade and $1.5 billion in imports from India to Israel.

“India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond,” Modi said during a special session in the Knesset honoring the Indian premier. This was the first time an Indian leader has addressed Israel’s parliament.

India and Israel will build an “iron alliance” of countries “in the face of extremist Islam,” said Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, who added that the two countries are together developing the IMEC initiative, a US-backed transport project that aims to connect India to Europe via the Middle East by sea and rail. “This maritime-land corridor can exist and flourish only if it passes through stable and secure countries. And there are no stronger and more secure countries on this axis than India and Israel,” he said.

This week, continue to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. Pray for the governments of Iran, Israel and the United States – that they will act with restraint and seek to avoid war. Pray for the speedy coming of our Lord and Savior: the Messiah of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

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