Russia Arming Iran

Business Insider reports that Iran has provided Russia with ammunition, unmanned drones, and other munitions during its war with Ukraine. Now, Russia plans to send advanced fighter jets and attack helicopters to Iran, greatly increasing the power of that nation’s air force (November 29, 2023). Top U.S. officials have noted that the increasing military cooperation between Iran and Russia is evident and represents a negative development for both Ukraine and the Middle East. This deal will be the first time Iran has purchased new military aircraft since the 1990s.

As Business Insider notes, “Iran supports several militant groups across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various proxies in Iraq and Syria.” Arms sales are also a big business for developed nations including Russia and the United States.

While Russia attempts to build closer ties with Iran, China, and North Korea, the European Union has become more defensive about Russia’s aggression in Europe. The outlines of this geopolitical polarization should not be a surprise. Bible prophecy states that while the European “king of the north” is warring in the Middle East in the end times, adversarial “news from the east and the north” of Jerusalem will trouble him (Daniel 11:40–45). Other prophecies describe a coming alliance of eastern powers—potentially including portions of Russia, China, and other nations east of the Euphrates River—that will control a massive 200-million-man army and initiate a military exchange that will kill a third of mankind (Revelation 9:13–21). Eventually, these eastern forces will cross over a dried-up Euphrates to join with others at Megiddo before heading to Jerusalem (Revelation 16:12–16). As the global geopolitical scene shifts and changes, we need to view these changes through the lens of Bible prophecy. To get a bigger perspective, be sure to read or listen to The Middle East in Prophecy.