Tag: Middle East

Keep Your Eyes On Turkey

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Turkey is taking a significant step toward joining the global military elite by testing a missile that would put much of Europe and the Middle East within reach and eventually lead to the launch of real-time intelligence satellites, according to people familiar with the plans.

The country showcased an intercontinental ballistic missile at an expo this week, joining the US, Russia and only a handful of other powers that have the weapons. Turkey’s ICBM has a range of 6,000 kilometers (3,750 miles) and the plan is to test fire it in Somalia later this year at the earliest, the people said, declining to be identified when talking about sensitive defense matters.

For full article: Bloomberg

As I said earlier in another post, Turkey is the next big Muslim country to be wary of in the Middle East. Leadership of turkey has openly said, “we will dance around Jerusalem”, and they are not talking about in friendship, but in the defeat of Israel. This is a NATO country that is a thorn in the side of Israel. Ezekiel 38 talks of Iran, Turkey, and Russia leading a coalition against a peaceful Israel. It will happen. Be wary of Turkey. Rh

Movement With Iran

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Reports that the U.S. and Iran are at the closest point to an agreement since the war began.

• The naval blockade by the US and Iran will be gradually lifted during the detailed negotiation period.

• The US will commit in the memorandum of understanding to gradually remove sanctions and release tens of billions of dollars from freezing.

• Negotiations are still ongoing regarding the duration of the uranium enrichment freeze. Three sources said the freeze will last at least 12 years, and one source estimated the final result will be 15 years. Additionally, the US wants to include a clause in the agreement stating that any Iranian violation regarding uranium enrichment will extend the freeze period.

• Two sources claimed that Iran will agree to remove the highly enriched uranium in its possession from the country.

• The United States expects to receive Iran’s response within the next 48 hours on several key points in the draft framework agreement.

Trump to PBS: Trump to PBS network: It is possible that we will reach a deal before my visit to China next week. There is a good chance to end the war with Iran. I don’t think I will send Witkoff and Kushner for talks.

More from Trump to PBS: The enriched uranium will be transferred to the US as part of the deal. Iran will not use underground facilities. If there is no agreement, we will bomb them to hell

IMO – it will never happen. Iran’s leadership is fractured. Hardliners only want delay, the more moderate faction does want some type of deal. What will Trump do? Who knows, Mr preference is take ‘em out. Rh

Update:

Bottom line:

Once again, the political level of the Islamic Republic is making promises to the Americans that the military level – which is de facto ruling the country – is not in agreement with.

Netanyahu

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Netanyahu

By Jim Fletcher

Below is a powerful tribute to a roaring lion for the nation of Israel. Some love him, most hate or despise him. He and Trump, (IMO) are much alike. Raised for such a time as this, together they have proved a valiant and resolute pair of compatriots against the evils of the day in the Middle East, especially there firm conviction that Iran must be de-clawed. Never count either one out. Cheers and God’s best to them both. Rh

I well remember asking a new Israeli friend in 1996 how to pronounce the name of a rising politician, one running for prime minister of Israel against the old lion, Shimon Peres.

The new lion would do quite well for himself.

Benjamin Netanyahu, against all odds, beat Peres in 1996 and though he lost to the hapless Ehud Barak three years later, he re-emerged later to become Israel’s longest-serving PM. 

(When I say “hapless,” I mean that Barak was as a politician. As a commander within the IDF’s elite counter-terrorism unit, Barak was truly elite. Israel’s fighters-turned-politicians often do maddening things once in office. Netanyahu himself has bucked that trend and has served with distinction.)

Netanyahu was hated from the beginning, although he’s always had a strong base within the Likud Party (somewhat akin to our Republicans). Raised on a strong diet of Zionism from Benzion and Cela, he and his brothers have been devoted lions for the state of Israel. I remember in Bibi’s book, A Durable Peace, he described a training maneuver that took his unit through the Negev Desert, emerging at Masada one night. Sweating, breathing hard as he looked at the ancient fortress, Netanyahu felt a real link to his ancestors. This is the essence of Zionism and has served him well as he navigated evil leaders like Arafat, Clinton, and all UN chiefs. 

This week, I thought he got a nice tribute via X, as @liberallikudnik wrote:

“Begin grew old and weary and handed over all of Sinai to Egypt. Rabin grew old and weary and brought armed terrorists into the heart of the country. Sharon grew old and weary and turned Gaza into Judenrein and a terrorist state. Netanyahu in their age, a hero like a lion, full of vigor, building in Judea and Samaria, leading the IDF back to Gaza, to Lebanon and Syria, and eliminating the regime of evil in Iran. May he be healthy.”

True enough. Although I take exception to the partial description of Menachem Begin, a truly elite PM for Israel. As the winner of the premiership in 1977, leading Likud, Begin has arguably been Israel’s most religious prime minister. He was a great man. Yes, he tired at the end, but his mind and body were spent fighting as a Zionist. May his memory be a blessing.

I would say Yitzhak Rabin, as perhaps Israel’s least religious leader, made some fundamental diplomatic errors, yet. Sharon inexplicably emptied Gaza of Jews, but I suspect that had a lot to do with intense pressure from the George Bush gang. Among the weakest Israeli PMs—if you can call Naftali Bennett’s and Yair Lapid’s five minutes in office actual leaders—are those two, ideological foes that still came together in their hatred of Netanyahu.

New Israeli elections will emerge this fall and as usual, like clockwork, Netanyahu’s political obituary is being polished up as we speak. It can be added to the dozens more than have come before. It’s a bit like Oklahoma and Texas, or vice versa, not having a chance against the other in the Cotton Bowl. Then…the inevitable upset.

Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized, heavily, by literally everyone. He has a polarizing personality, but I would argue not of his own making. I haven’t always liked his decisions, but everyone does that. I will go to my grave believing that he is much more the young man that sat around the family dinner table in the Old Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem. As I’ve written before, I knew the old man the last decade he lived, and a couple times walked a few blocks over to gaze on the sublime scene of Jerusalem’s Old City in the moonlight. My wonderful conversations with Benzion make it clear to me all three Netanyahu boys will take Zion into their hearts for the duration. All three served in the same unit, Sayeret Matkal. 

At present, there is no one fit to tie Netanyahu’s shoelaces among their political echelon. 

Here’s to King Bibi!

Talks In Pakistan Have Failed

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

To no ones’s surprise, peace talks between the U.S. and Iran have failed. I might add, they were just political theater.

Iran’s negotiating position is to place high demands and concessions on talks, then walk away to talk another day. It has worked for decades. Rh

J. D. Vance press briefer:

Vice President JD Vance in a dramatic statement now from Islamabad, Pakistan:

“We’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement – and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”

Vice President JD Vance: “We leave here with a very simple proposal, a  method of understanding that is our final and best offer.  We’ll see if the Iranians accept it”. Reports are the entire American delegation has left, including Kushner and Witkoff.

Let’s see what happens next. Reports of dozens of KC Stratotanker and KC -46 A Pegasus spotted in Tel Aviv at Ben Guriin airport. Re-wind for war??

Latest from Turkey:

Erdogan says, “If The War drags on and US-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to achieve peace, then Türkiye may enter the war against Israel.” In an official statement.

That is certainly not a good prospect. As I have warned before, Turkey is a key player in the Middle East and certainly a key in Bible prophecy. Rh

Give Him 15 by Dutch Sheets

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Below is portion of an article written by Dutch Sheets, a great man of God. His prayer ministry is well known here in the United States. He is right on target. Enjoy and pray for God’s wisdom in these crazy times. Rh

To those criticizing President Trump for his actions, accusing him of war crimes and of killing innocent people: if you have not screamed as loudly over the murder of 65 million babies in the womb; if you have not protested the mutilation of thousands of confused children by ideologically driven adults; if you did not weep and cry out over the 45,000 innocent Iranians tortured and murdered in the past few months by the evil regime in control there…then spare us your hypocrisy. Your rants ring hollow; your clamoring is meaningless, and your complaints are beyond hypocritical. President Trump and our military are doing the world a favor by dealing with this wicked regime. And we, as Americans, can endure some high fuel prices and a lower stock market for a short season as they do so. 

Pray for our leaders, especially our President. He is making difficult decisions that will impact the world for years. He has the guts and backbone to make tough calls, but only the wisdom of God can move us through these times successfully. Pray also for those advising him. Ask the Lord to block counsel that is not wise, allowing only His wisdom to get to the President. And pray for those in negotiations during this two-week period; ask the Lord to give them supernatural discernment and wisdom.

Pray that any evil intentions and lies from Iran’s leaders be exposed, and pray against the powers of darkness involved in this situation. The Bible speaks of “principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). We are to stand against them! Ask the Lord for the continued overthrow of the prince of Persia/Iran mentioned in Daniel 10. This spirit seeks to interrupt God’s messages, wear down His people, and thereby disrupt His timing. 

Don’t simply watch the news; make the news through your prayers! The greatest weapon we have is appealing to heaven. When we do not pray, the enemy can prevail in the earth’s situations. But the effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous still avail much (James 5:16)! Dutch Sheets

Trump Blinked

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

I am a supporter of Trump, however he just made the two biggest mistakes he will regret.  With all his talk and bluster and egomania he portrays, he blinked.  Israel was two weeks away from total victory in Gaza, ceasefire, Hamas is rebuilding as we speak,  Never did lay down their arms.  Still recruiting, the “Board of Peace” is a joke.  Typical diplomacy.

Here we are in Iran, two weeks away from total victory, another pause.  Iran now feels imbolden, they will hunker down and rebuild.  China and Russia are more than ready to send all the weaponry they need.  

Just minutes after the so-called halt to hostilities, Iran sent multiple missiles into Israel.  Attack also in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.  

It has begun, the re-supply:

China and Russia at the UN announced their intention to provide extensive aid to Iran within the next 24 hours, claiming that it is assistance for the country’s reconstruction and not for the arms industry.

However, according to reports in the Russian media, China has already sent 3 cargo ships carrying weapons, while Russian military aid planes are currently on their way to Isfahan. And military aid planes from Belarus are on their way to Tehran!

Trump’s 15 demands to Iran:

 1. Dismantle all major nuclear facilities

 2. End all uranium enrichment on Iranian soil

 3. Transfer enriched uranium stockpiles out of Iran

 4. Accept intrusive international inspections everywhere

 5. Permanently renounce any nuclear weapons pathway

 6. Suspend ballistic missile development

 7. Stop production of long-range missiles

 8. End drone transfers and military exports to proxies

 9. Cut support to Hezbollah

 10. Cut support to Hamas

 11. Cut support to Iraqi Shiite militias and proxy groups

 12. End weapons transfers to the Houthis

 13. Fully reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz

 14. Stop threatening regional shipping and Gulf states

 15. Accept a broader regional de-escalation framework, including limits on military escalation with Israel

Iran’s 10 demands to Trump:

 1. A binding guarantee that the U.S. and its allies will not strike Iran again

 2. A permanent end to hostilities, not just a temporary ceasefire

 3. An end to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon

 4. Full lifting of U.S. sanctions

 5. Protection for Iran’s regional proxies and allied militias

 6. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian conditions

 7. A transit fee reportedly around $2 million per ship, shared with Oman

 8. Compensation or reconstruction support for war damage inside Iran

 9. Recognition of Iran’s regional security interests

 10. A broader framework for long-term negotiations without immediate surrender of core strategic capabilities

⸻

Insanity is expecting peace from radicals.  If this is signed it just made the US a laughingstock in the world community.  

This may be the last straw for me.  Please let a grownup talk some sense into the President.

War Updates: Time is Short for Iran

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

President Trump:

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran! Posted on Trump’s “Truth Social”

BREAKING NEWS:

Attacks on Kharg Island: The US military attacked bunkers, radar positions, and ammunition depots, According to Fox News, bunkers and ammunition depots were also attacked on Kharg Island.

(Fox News)

Be much in prayer for the next 24 hours, it seems the Iranian leadership is destined for the 72 virgins, without a deal this may be the most deadly part of the war. I expect to see sine ground troop operations, always difficult and dangerous even in the best of conditions. God’s protection over our troops. 🙏🙏🇺🇸🇮🇱

After another bizarre episode of Tucker Carlson’s podcast in which he attacked the president for allegedly desecrating Easter – Trump responds in a conversation with the New York Post: “He calls me all the time; I don’t answer his calls. I don’t deal with him. I like to deal with smart people, not with fools.”

Happy Resurrection Sunday!  

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

  • Every prophecy fulfilled
  • Passover Lamb slain
  • Darkness at mid afternoon
  • Temple curtain split from top to bottom
  • A hurried burial in a borrowed tomb 

The disciples were scared, confused and uncertain of what would happen next.  All in hiding, waiting, hoping, praying…..

  • A quick visit to the gravesite…where is He, was his body stolen?  

“Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she came running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.” So Peter came out with the other disciple and they went toward the tomb. They both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there. Yet he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went inside the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the cloth that was around His head, not lying with the other linen cloths, but wrapped in a place by itself.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭MEV‬‬

If that same Spirit…….

It is the folded cloth neatly placed by itself that tells the rest of the story. Tradition tells us when a King or prominent person gets up from the table after a meal, if they plan on returning, they neatly fold the napkin and place it beside their plates.  This act signifies that the person will return and to leave all the dishes and the cups on the table.  

Jesus was giving us a prophetic look into the future that the Apostle Paul would lay out in detail in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

‭‭

If that same Spirit….. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Our hope is in what is referred to as the “blessed hope”.  Jesus signified He was coming back!  Praise God!  Whether we go by the grave or we are translated and fly away in the Rapture, either way we shall be with Him forever.

If that same Spirit….

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Iran

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Rubio was on Fox talking about NATO, state of the war and mostly Iran.

“This is a regime led by people who believe it is their calling and their purpose in life to usher in the end of the world.

Araghchi is a liar.

This guy was on television… denying that Iran had any missiles beyond a certain range — and then they fired two of them.

They were aiming to become the next North Korea — not a North Korea run by a regime that is troublesome and hard to understand, but an Iran run by radical Shia clerics with intercontinental missiles.

We can see the finish line. It’s not today or tomorrow, but it’s coming”.

This is interesting and a conversation worth having.

Secretary Rubio says “since NATO isn’t allowing the U.S. to use their bases then we have to ask, “Why are we in NATO?”

Rubio says the U.S. is “going to have to reexamine the value of NATO and that alliance for our country.”

IMO the elites thought they were on their way to a new world order just a couple of years ago.  Not sure this is what they had in mind.  Europe devastated and worthless, Europe-lite (Canada) worthless and a new Middle East without Iran as the bully with no teeth.  Rubio is the rock star of this administration, and worthy of my apologies over concern about him.  After living in Florida for 10 years, I never thought thought he was like this.  Some people rise to the occasion, Rubio is acting Presidential, with strength but with some tact which is much needed in the White House.  At the present time he is my pick and favorite to continue the freedom march the U.S. has begun under Trump.  America is back, baby!  Rh

Commentary below on what Trump might say tonight in his speech from the White House. From Amit Sega’s newsletter “It’s Noon In Israel”.  Highly recommend you check him out, great updates from inside Israel.

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, Donald Trump is set to deliver an “important update on Iran.” At 4 a.m. Israel time, most Israelis, including the leadership, will be away from their phones, either asleep or still celebrating the first night of Passover. When they eventually wake or finish the Passover meal and check their updates, I am certain they will not be blindsided by the announcement.

Most likely, Trump announces that despite the great victories already achieved, more is required to finish off the Islamic Republic. He confirms that he is still open to a diplomatic settlement, but nothing has manifested so far, and critical infrastructure remains a target. If so, that would suggest he is sticking to the original plan: another two to three weeks of strikes before transitioning to the protest phase.

Least likely, he announces a unilateral end to the war. The uranium is yet to be retrieved or more deeply buried beneath Isfahan; Kharg is still in Iranian hands, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Any one of these facts would cast a shadow on Trump’s declaration of victory; all three make victory difficult to make out. Yet even if Trump chooses to declare victory regardless, Israel more broadly would be surprised, but the leadership would not. As a senior intelligence source told me last week, Israel is prepared for this outcome and still believes it can pull out a win if U.S. forces remain in the region during the protest phase.

Part of his speech will certainly be devoted to calming oil markets. Trump’s rhetoric may have a chaotic tone, but there is a clear rhythm to his comments, balancing between explosive threats and assurances that the war is almost over. So far, he has succeeded. If I had asked an expert at the outset of the war what prices would look like if barely any oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz for almost a month, $100 would be far from the estimate. Since markets are open for two more days, I would imagine Trump’s dovish side will be present tonight.

After 33 days of the closest cooperation in the histories of both countries, I think we can say with confidence that no matter how the media reacts to Trump’s comments tonight, Israel will not be surprised.

Bridge To Ezekiel 38 War

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

The military action we see now in the Middle East is not leading to the Ezekiel 38 war.  That war is with Russia, Turkey, and Iran with  other Muslim nations forming a coalition to attack Israel at a time of relative peace and security.  This war is doing something no other military war or action has done.  Realignment in the Gulf region.

Deterrents and consolidations.  The US, along with Israel is taking its rightful place as the moral force to deter forces of evil.  Iran has raged a proxy war on Israel for years, and on America for 47 years ever since the taking of the Embassy in Tehran.  The radical Ayatollahs have spewed hatred and death to Israel and the US.  Calling us both tools of Satan.  That is the pot calling the kettle black

A shift is happening, MBS (Muhammad Bin Salim) Saudi  Arabia’s crown prince has publicly called for Trump to not stop until Iran is defeated. UAE has espoused similar assertions.  Terror proxies  have been deterred, new alliances have been made and old partners are showing their cowardness.  NATO may well be finished as Trump declares he is watching and taking notes. Trump made the statement recently that one European PM told him “this is not our war”, to which Trump replied “neither is Ukraine our war”.  Point counter point.  Russia is lurking.

War is chaotic and causes confusion, but it ultimately brings peace and realignment.  Arab neighbors are forgetting old tribal grudges and looking toward a new stability and prosperity in the Gulf region.  Netanyahu has been pushing the idea of a pipeline from Saudi Arabia across Israel to export oil, making piracy and closure of the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz a mute point.  Seems MBS may be ready to explore that plan.  Funny how the enemy of your enemy becomes your friend.  Arabs are finding out Israel is not the problem. With new alliances, comes new prosperity and that is good for the entire region.  

Sometimes it takes a war to clear out the rats as they scurry to find protection.  War is chaos.  The military is designed to bring fury on the enemy, but the aftermath could, hopefully bring old combatants together. Let’s pray for that.  God is able to bring change and new directions out of the fog of war aftermath.  After all He created the world out of emptiness, nothing is impossible.  Could this conflict bring about the peace and security that Israel craves and set the stage for Ezekiel 38??  

IMO the next war in the Middle East will likely be the Ezekiel 38 war.  The Russia, Turkey & Iran coalition will attempt to move on Israel as the world looks on and hopes for diplomatic means to end the next crisis in the Middle East.  But this time it isn’t a nation, but Almighty God who crushes the Gog and Magog alliance with large hailstones from heaven!  It all makes sense to me. Prophecy given, prophecy fulfilled.  This conflict isn’t the big one, but most likely the next one will be Ezekiel 38.  

Look up your redemption draws near.  Maranatha! Rh

*Update* Spain, Italy, UK, France and Poland have told the US they will not be a part of any help when it comes to the conflict in Iran.  Including the strait of Hormuz.  NATO is falling apart right before our eyes.  They seem very cocky for a bunch of cowards who run to America for help every time Putin sneezes in their direction.  Rh