Iran’s Growing Belligerence

Iran is testing the waters with the new American President. “Iran conducted its first ballistic missile test under Donald Trump’s presidency… U.N. resolution 2231—put in place days after the Iran nuclear deal was signed—calls on the Islamic Republic not to conduct such tests. However, this is at least Iran’s second such test since July” (Fox News, January 30, 2017). President Trump slapped new sanctions on Iran, and, in response, “Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri cautioned that the ‘ultimate losers’ were those who employed the ‘language of force’ against the Islamic Republic” (Times of Israel, February 7, 2017). In addition, Iran’s Supreme Leader voiced his gratefulness to President Trump “for showing ‘the true face of the U.S.’ Khamenei told a gathering of Iran’s air force commanders in Tehran that the new U.S. administration has shown the world ‘the depth of corruption in U.S. government’” (CNN, February 7, 2017). Iran’s actions are also of concern to Israel. The Israeli prime minister has stressed “the need for a common front... against Iran’s defiant aggression... [and] in light of Iran’s defiance against the international order” (The Guardian, February 5, 2017).

Historically, when ancient Israel or Judah turned from God, their adversaries increased (1 Kings 11:9, 14, 23). Today in the USA, UK, and Israel, where breaking and despising God’s laws is celebrated, it should be no surprise that Iran and other nations are directly challenging America’s global role. For more, read “The Demise of the West.”