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| Iran and Russia hold joint naval manoeuvres |  |  |  |
| World |
| Written by Chris Perver |
| Thursday, 30 July 2009 14:34 |
| Iran and Russia have commenced joint naval exercises in the Caspian Sea, according to a report by the Iranian Mehr News Agency. If confirmed it would be the first time the Russian navy has staged military manoeuvres with the Islamic republic. Although the manoeuvre's stated goal is to prevent pollution and increase security in the Caspian Sea area, it is more likely that the increased cooperation between Russia and Iran is intended to send a clear signal to the West over any threat of a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor, which has been financed and constructed by the Russian government, will go online in September of this year. Iran and China have invested millions of dollars in constructing Iran's nuclear facilities, and stand to lose a lot should it all go up in smoke. Russia has agreed to supply Iran with a highly sophisticated S300 anti-aircraft system to protect their nuclear facilities, as well as long-range fighter jets to defend their airspace against the threat of attack. Just days ago, the US administration cautioned Israel against a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, fearing that the Jewish state was about to launch an attack. Last weekend Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned President Ahmadinejad that the military option remains on the table. If Israel deems the threat to be significant enough, and previous Ayatollahs have boasted that it would only take one nuclear-tipped missile to wipe the Jewish state off the map, then it would be likely that Israel would mount a pre-emptive strike similar to the one which took place in Syria in 2007. In that attack Israeli jets were able to penetrate Russian radar systems and destroy the Syrian reactor just a matter of weeks before it was due to go online. Quote: "The report, which could not be independently confirmed, quoted a senior Iranian ports authority official who said the drill was aimed at preventing pollution and improving search and rescue operations coordination between the two nations. However, the maneuver, involving some 30 vessels, is seen by some analysts as a way to join forces against the U.S., which the Asia Times referred to as "the intrusive Western superpower." Entitled "Regional Collaboration for a Secure and Clean Caspian," the two-day drill quietly combines military objectives with environmental goals. A 1921 Iran-Russia friendship agreement was the legal foundation for the present naval cooperation between the two countries, according to political analyst Kaveh L. Afrasiabi. There is some debate as to what the next event will be which will come to pass on God's prophetic timetable. It is impossible to know for definite, but as you can see, the political alliances that were detailed in the book of Ezekiel over 2500 years ago are now coming together. Ezekiel prophesied that after the Jewish people are brought back to their land, that the leader of an alliance of nations, which is to include Russia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan and Libya, will mount an invasion of the land of Israel (Ezekiel 38:5-6). Russia's ambition to control the Middle East, along with Iran's aspirations to destroy the Jewish state, may constitute at least some of the "hooks" in Gog's jaw which will bring him up against the land of Israel in the latter days. The Bible predicts that the retaliation for this invasion will be as swift as it is destructive. Mountains will be thrown down, every wall will fall to the ground, and God will rain hail, fire and brimstone upon the invading armies (Ezekiel 38:20). Due to the small size of the Jewish state, defence officials have remarked that Israel would be prepared to use tactical nuclear weapons in response to any threat to the nation's existence. They call it the 'Samson option', and the Bible seems to indicate that it could be used in response to the Magog war. As you can see, the prospect of this war grows closer by the day. Just as God has promised to defend the nation of Israel, so the Lord has promised to defend His people. We don't have a 'Samson option', but we do have something much better. Samson's strength failed him when his hair was shorn. But Jesus Christ has said that no man shall be able to pluck us out of His hand (John 10:28-29). Israel spends billions of dollars maintaining a security that is already guaranteed by God (Zechariah 12:3). But they do not yet know the kind of security that comes through knowing the Messiah as Lord and Saviour (John 14:27). That is eternal security. Jesus Christ loves you. He bore God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross. And all who believe on Him for the forgiveness of sins have eternal life. Why don't you turn away from your sins, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today. Psalm 125:1-2 Source Arutz 7, Tehran Times, Times Online |
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