Iran says it will proceed with its ballistic program irrespective of USA sanctions

Iranian Emad missile (Mohammad Agah)

Iran is telling the world it still will proceed with its military ambitions:

January 19, 2016

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Monday new U.S. sanctions targeting the country’s ballistic missile program will have no effect on missile development.

The U.S. imposed the new measures Sunday against five Iranian nationals and a network of companies with links to banned missile activity, a move that followed the lifting of economic sanctions tied to Iran’s nuclear program.

Dehqan said the ballistic missile sanctions show the U.S. is “hostile” toward Iran and he pledged to unveil new missile developments soon.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari called the new sanctions illegitimate.

Iran drew condemnation from the United States and other Western powers for two ballistic missile tests late last year said to violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. Iran defended the tests as a matter of national security.

‘Vigorously’ enforce sanctions

President Barack Obama said his government will “vigorously” enforce sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile program.

“Iran’s recent missile test, for example, was a violation of its international obligations and as a result the United States is imposing sanctions on individuals and companies working to advance Iran’s ballistic missile program,” Obama said. “And we are going to remain vigilant about it.”

The U.S. Treasury Department said the five Iranians worked to get missile components for Iran, as did the network of companies based In the United Arab Emirates and China that used third parties to try to deceive foreign suppliers and hide the identity of who would ultimately be using the materials.

The announcement came a day after the U.S. agreed to lift sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program under an international deal reached in July, and hours after confirmation that five Americans held captive in Iran had been released. …

On Monday, following the lifting of international sanctions over its nuclear program, Iran announced a major boost in oil production, by 500,000 barrels a day. Iran currently produces about 3 million barrels per day, about 1 million of which is exported.

Saturday’s announcement that Iran is complying with last July’s nuclear agreement is seen by many analysts as a boost to the prestige of Rouhani, who said he expects it will open “new windows for engagement with the world.” http://www.voanews.com/content/iran-new-sanctions-will-not-limit-ballistic-missile-program/3152322.html

Iran got the international UN sanctions lifted that were against it.

This gives Iran access to something like US$90-150 billion of frozen assets, plus will allow it to trade internationally. Iran is believed to have the fourth largest oil reserves in the world.

So, Iran will be able to better fund its military objectives. The USA has lost much of the leverage it slightly had with Iran when it agreed to the nuclear deal and the lifting of the international sanctions. While Europe might impose some of its own sanctions against Iran, the totality of the suggested sanctions simply will not affect Iran as much as the lifting of the UN related ones.

Iran feels emboldened to continue with its military plans and is telling the world, including its neighbors, that it will pursue them.

Contrary to the hopes of many, the government of Iran does NOT want to be a peaceful nation in the Near East. Iran’s leaders want to invade Israel, dominate all Islam, and eliminate the USA. Iran will continue to take steps that it believes will help it accomplish that, including military ones.

Iran ultimately wants to takeover the world.

That is what Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei really wants.

Yet, as I have been writing, Iran is likely to ‘overplay it hand.’ It believes that Allah is on its side and that Allah’s agents have helped get Iran into a position where it can prevail against Israel and the USA and then gain the leadership of the Islamic world.

This makes Iran dangerous.

According to the Bible, Iran may very well damage Israel with its ballistic missiles. Consider the following involving Elam (a reference to some in Iran) and Kir (possibly a reference to some in Syria):

5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity
By the Lord God of hosts
In the Valley of Vision —
Breaking down the walls
And of crying to the mountain.
6 Elam bore the quiver
With chariots of men and horsemen,
And Kir uncovered the shield.
7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys
Shall be full of chariots,
And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 He removed the protection of Judah.
You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest;
9 You also saw the damage to the city of David,
That it was great;
And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool.
10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem,
And the houses you broke down
To fortify the wall. (Isaiah 22:5-10)

The tiny nation called Israel is essentially ‘Judah’ and the reference to the City of David is pointing to Jerusalem. The USA could also be affected by Iran. Iran is currently believed to be capable of using ‘dirty’ bombs (explosives with radioactive components), biological weapons, chemical weapons, and electro-magnetic pulse weapons, while it is widely believed to be working on actual nuclear weapons. Yet Iran will ultimately be basically neutralized as a power (cf. Jeremiah 49:34-38). Notice something I posted on May 26, 2010:

If Iran keeps trying to be difficult on the international scene, it will likely be neutralized (Iran Slams Russia).

Iran is not in as strong of a position as its leaders now seem to think.

Because of how its leaders think, we may very well see a regional war involving Iran, Syria, and Israel, perhaps with some USA involvement. A war that could see all of them damaged according to Bible prophecy. But also a war that might lead to another ‘deal’–perhaps one day the deal of Daniel 9:27 that will signal the final countdown to the end.

That being said, despite the view of certain Protestant prophecy watchers, it needs to be pointed out that Iran is not about to be totally aligned with Russia to invade Israel or somehow fulfill Ezekiel 38 (see also Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? and/or watch Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code)). Ezekiel 38 is NOT fulfilled until well AFTER Jesus returns.

Iran’s statements about its ballistic program demonstrate that it is committed to its military agenda. One that may not end up well for Israel, nor itself (Jeremiah 49:34-38).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now? Another could be Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code).
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 188 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Hillary Clinton and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also discusses Republicans. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Hillary Clinton Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Hopi, and other America-Related Prophecies? $11.99.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.