Tag: Middle East

Secretary of State Rubio

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Marco Rubio says the U.S. will not give sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

If Iran wants to be able to move its oil again through the strait, they will have to reopen the straits.

If they refuse to do so, then we have other options available to us, but we would prefer to negotiate the opening of this.

Marco Rubio says there are indications that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and becoming increasingly involved in decision-making.

A final thought from Mark Levin. Don’t always agree with Mr Levin, but he is right on this post. I totally agree. Rh

Mark Levin criticized President Trump’s demand from Israel to halt attacks on Hezbollah in Beirut:

WHAT IF HEZBOLLAH WAS A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL FIRING MISSILES INTO OUR COUNTRY?

Simple questions:  What would we do if Mexican drug cartels fired thousands of missiles into our country, depopulating the Southwestern part of the United States?  Would we limit our response to defensive military action?  Would we halt attacking their main location because it was near a city?  What would we do?

Diplomacy By Peddlers

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Trump is making the biggest mistake of his Presidency by allowing one failed, (Witkoff) and one connected (Kushner) real estate peddler to conduct foreign policy in the Middle East.  They have no clue to the mindset of the radical Islamist.  They don’t want money to rebuild their country. They can’t be trusted, they only stall and re-arm.  They lie and promise to compromise only to gain time to strengthen their position.

These two carpetbaggers negotiated the deal of the century with Hamas.  Really?  Now we see the same Barney Fife like mentality exhibited with Iran.  We call it a deal when we stop (supposedly) fighting to talk?  Evidence is clear that Iran has already started re-building some of the previously destroyed missile launching facilities.  We have pictures.   The art of the deal is not the important part, the actual deal is the primary issue.  There is no deal, none that Iran will actually agree to and most certainly none they will abide by.  Marco Rubio, where are you? We need an adult in the room.

We will once again leave a country in the Middle East the same as before.  Nothing changes.  Regime change needs to happen, but who?  The Middle East is a quagmire and always will be.  Age-old customs, rivalries, and religious wars have dominated the region.  I feel for the Iranian people who have been subjected to such horrors over the last 40 years.  Their plight is worthy of much prayer.  There is a revival happening in Iran now!  But can it overcome the evil power embedded in the elite?  Probably not.

The Biblical perspective is Iran will never be completely destroyed, because they play an integral part in prophecy.  Russia, Turkey and Iran will lead an axis of evil to attempt to destroy Israel in the future.  We don’t know exactly when, the Bible only gives us limited information.  We do know it will be at a time that Israel is living in some sort of peace and will seemingly be surprised by the invasion attempt. Peace and safety is the only clue the Almighty gives us in Ezekiel 38.  

God will fight for Israel to make his name known to all the world at that invasion, and then Iran will meet its day of destiny.  It won’t happen in this action, but someday…. Rh

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the creation of a new naval force to challenge Houthi control of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

▪️ The force is backed primarily by Saudi Arabia, with political support from the United States and other Western countries.

▪️ Its mission is to secure shipping lanes, combat weapons smuggling, and restore government authority along Yemen’s western coast and key islands.

▪️ The Houthis and Iran have condemned the move, warning of escalation and threatening maritime traffic if pressure on them increases.

▪️ For Israel, the development is strategically significant because it directly challenges the Houthi maritime threat to Red Sea shipping and the route to Eilat.

▪️ A stronger pro-government Yemeni presence could help weaken Iran’s regional influence, reduce Houthi smuggling operations, improve freedom of navigation, and lessen the need for direct Israeli military involvement in the area.

▪️ In short, Israel has a clear interest in seeing this force succeed, as it serves as a counterweight to both the Houthis and Iran while helping keep the Red Sea open and secure.

(Nziv. Net)

Nothing is ever easy in the Middle East. Rh

Deja Vu All Over Again

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

I am in the Oval Office at the White House where we just had a very good call with President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of The United Arab Emirates, Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Minister Ali al-Thawadi, of Qatar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, of Pakistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, of Türkiye, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, of Egypt, King Abdullah II, of Jordan, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, of Bahrain, concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all things related to a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE. An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed. Separately, I had a call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, which, likewise, went very well. Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly. In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

President DONALD J. TRUMP

Mark Dubowitz, the chief executive of FDD, a conservative Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan policy institute:

Epic Fury lasted 40 days.

The ceasefire has now lasted 60.

The U.S. and Israeli militaries won the war. But if the reported terms are accurate, the regime is now winning the ceasefire.

Another 60-day extension would only deepen Tehran’s advantage.

Ok so what we have is a preliminary agreement? An agreement largely been negotiated? Remember the Gaza peace deal of the century? Israel was within a couple of weeks of total victory, and Trump jumps in signs a ceasefire and demands Hamas give up their weapons. They never did. Ok now we start a war and are within a couple of weeks of finishing off Iran, we stop and start negotiating? We just left the dissidents in Iran up a creek without a paddle. Will this deal go the way of the Gaza ceasefire? Yep. I just don’t understand, please make me understand it. As long as Iran still have capabilities to make and deploy nuclear weapons, the won. They went toe to toe to Big Satan and won.

I feel the worst for Israel. They will have to deal with them in the near future. Mark my words, this isn’t over, in fact the fighting may have to begin again. When it does I hope Trump has learned his lesson and takes care of business. As of now back to status quo. Rh

Update:

Details of the signed MOU:

– Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen

– Iran will not charge transit fees

– US won’t pay any money to Iran

– Sanction relief on Iranian oil

– Lebanon is part of the ceasefire

– 60 days to negotiate nuclear issues

Per Amir Tsarfati

Prison Camps For ‘Zionists’: Democrats Scramble To Disown The Political Jew-Hatred They Actively Promoted – Harbinger’s Daily

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

At a time when antisemitism is becoming increasingly normalized within the Democrat party, a Texas Candidate has taken the escalation in Jew hatred a disturbing step further, with representatives denouncing her as the “first current political candidate [to suggest] concentration camps for American Jews.” In an alarming social media post,…
— Read on harbingersdaily.com/prison-camps-for-zionists-democrat-leaders-forced-to-condemn-the-political-jew-hatred-they-actively-promoted/

We are seeing the radical left take off their cloaks and bare their true feelings. Here is a shocking article that is unfortunately becoming more mainstream. Read it and weep for our nation. The spiritual war is moving from the closets to the public arena. The anti-christ spirit is alive and flourishing in America. We are living in “Prophetic Times.” Rh

An Unfaithful Husband And A Bitter Wife

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

The back and forth between the World’s most powerful nation and a semi third-world wannabe has taken on the role of divorce court 2026.  Every day or two it seems the scorned wife (Iran) blows up and threatens the unfaithful husband (Trump) with humiliation.  Of course then Trump responds with “unacceptable”!  Back and forth we go in an almost daily stream more reminiscent of divorce court rather than two nations attempting to work out a cease fire. Can we get a mediator in the room, please.

One of Trump’s biggest problems, and his best advantage is that he says whatever pops into his brain.  Not always good for mediation, but does keep the enemy off balance.  So I can’t remember is this the third or fourth time Trump has threatened to blast Iran off the face of the earth?  Too many threats and not enough action.  Do it or stop saying it.  The U.S. is starting to sound like a bully, or Obama and his notorious red line in the sand.

Heres is my take:

  • Iran can’t be trusted, they lie
  • If a deal is made, Iran will break it
  • Trump has pressure at home; mid-terms, high gas prices etc
  • Bad advice from the advisors inside the White House
  • Get rid of Kushner and Witkoff, they are money hungry idiots

Just as with Gaza the war which was stopped too quickly, so it is with Iran.  In the case of Gaza it was simply wanting peace so badly that Trump overlooked the fact that throwing money at a religious war will not work.  Been there, tried that more than once.  How do you think Iran got the money to build and buy their weaponry? Obama and his pallets of cash, anyone?  The same thing has happened in Iran, we stopped too soon.  Or IMO we should have been more aggressive in taking Kharg Island, that would have stopped the global oil pressures, and opened the Strait of Hormuz.  Surely we had the firepower to do that with very minimal and possible no loss of life.  

Granted I’m a keyboard warrior when it comes to military intelligence, but come on, we had enough fire power to do the job.  Back to divorce court for another round of “he said”, “she said”.  Will this ever end?  Iran cares less about a solution than Trump does.  That does not bode well for the U.S.

Time will tell the endgame, but as of now the results I see in the future are not at all what I hoped for.  Let us also bear in mind the lateness of our time on earth.  We are in the last days, Iran will still be somewhat viable when Turkey and Russia join them to move against a somewhat peaceful and secure Israel. (Ezekiel 38). God is sovereign and it is all in His timing, but it does seem to be Déjà vu all over again. 

Up next a high pressure meeting with China.  

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