Iranian state media is highlighting Tehran’s decision to activate centrifuges linked to its nuclear program. Iran also says it wants to expand enrichment capacity. Both of these moves appear to be about sending a message to the West. Iran has already enriched a lot of uranium in recent years. Its real hurdle to nuclear weaponization is to test a bomb and put it on a missile that can carry it. The regime is moving in that direction, but it’s making more noise about the enrichment program than the weaponization.
“Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf says the Islamic Republic began activating its advanced centrifuges in response to a politically motivated measure by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors on the country’s peaceful nuclear program,” Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran’s official news agency, reported. “The actions of the three European states and the US, which are politically motivated and detrimental, resulted in an unjust resolution regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program,” the report said. “The speaker underlined that the three European countries and the US are using Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities as an excuse to advance their illegitimate measures, undermining the credibility and independence of the IAEA and disrupting the constructive collaboration between Iran and the agency. Iran will significantly accelerate its uranium enrichment activities by installing thousands of new advanced centrifuges over the next few months, following the Western-backed censure at the International Atomic Energy Agency,” IRNA reported.
Iran is now positioning itself to enrich more uranium and prepare for the next steps in its nuclear program. This would likely happen as US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. “However, what will happen on the ground is that in the next 4 to 6 months, with the activation of thousands of new centrifuge machines, the speed of enrichment will increase, new infrastructures will be established, and some other actions will take place,” Kamalvandi said. “Thus, the Western parties that have been trying to push back Iran's nuclear program will face a different reality: a program that is significantly broader and more advanced, both quantitatively and qualitatively, which will certainly not bring them any joy,” he noted.
The election of President Trump in the US has caused a push throughout the world, some positive and some negative. Russia and Ukraine seem to be more open to negotiation since the election. Israel seems poised to finally gain ground in the region as well. However, Iran might be doing the opposite and is doing whatever it can to maximize its various nuclear programs before President Trump takes office, knowing that he was very strong against their progress through various economic sanctions. Will this panic lead to something happening in the Middle East either prior to Inauguration Day or shortly after before sanctions can be restored? Is it too late for the sanctions to work as they previously did? Only time will tell how this unfolds in the Middle East. One thing is certain; Iran is not simply going to go away. They are going to continue to be a thorn in the side of both Israel and the West and with their connections to Turkey, Russia and even China, they are very dangerous.
Biblical Connection: The election of President Trump seems to help solidify Israel’s place in the Middle East once again. He is seen in Israel as one of the most pro-Israel presidents in history. However, President Trump alone will not completely nullify Iran’s ambitions and as long as they are sponsored and endorsed by Russia and China, they will continue to cause problems for Israel and the Middle East at large.
PRAY: Pray that Iran’s ambitions to gain nuclear capabilities and destroy Israel will be thwarted and a coalition of nations will stop them from continuing their current path.