Greater Israel war news

[Luther]

 

 Iran, US conclude ‘constructive’ nuclear talks in Oman, agree to meet again

 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says high-level talks were conducted in ‘constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect’.

By Maziar Motamedi

Published On 12 Apr 2025

12 Apr 2025

Tehran, Iran – Delegates from the United States and Iran agreed to hold more talks next week after concluding “indirect” nuclear negotiations in the Omani capital, Muscat.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Saturday’s talks as having been conducted in a “constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect”, and said chief negotiators “spoke for several minutes in the presence of the Omani Foreign Minister while leaving the negotiations venue”.

 

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff headed the US delegation, while the Iranians were led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He was accompanied by his deputy for political affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, deputy for international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi acted as chief mediator, taking messages between the delegations who were sitting in separate rooms.

The White House issued a statement saying the talks were “positive and constructive”. “These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome,” it said, adding the sides agreed to “meet again next Saturday.”

While Trump and his officials had insisted the talks would be “direct” and “in the same room”, Tehran had stressed that the negotiations would be indirect.

Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays quoted a source close to the negotiations that both sides were asked to produce a position paper, laying out the areas they think are important for the discussion and their red lines.

Iran has emphasised that the talks will solely be focused on its nuclear programme, and not its military capabilities or its “axis of resistance” of aligned forces across the region.

Shortly before the talks, US President Donald Trump again warned Tehran of military action if a deal is not reached.

“I want them not to have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on his way to Florida on Friday night.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also reiterated a refrain favoured by the Trump administration, saying “there will be all hell to pay” if the president’s demands are not met.

“We’ve been very clear that Iran is never going to have a nuclear weapon, and I think that’s what led to this meeting,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.

‘Real and fair’ deal

Iran and its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have emphasised that the US cannot be trusted and Iran would not sit down with US officials directly, because Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 during his first term as president.

It remains unclear whether the second round of the talks will be direct or carried out similarly to Saturday’s mediated negotiations.

Before the talks, a senior aide to Supreme Leader Khamenei said Tehran is seeking a “real and fair” agreement with Washington.

“Far from putting up a show and merely talking in front of the cameras, Tehran is seeking a real and fair agreement, important and implementable proposals are ready,” Ali Shamkhani posted on X on Friday.

The 2015 accord put stringent limits on Iran’s enrichment of uranium, stockpiles of nuclear material, and research and development in exchange for lifting United Nations sanctions.

The US had imposed its harshest sanctions yet after reneging on the deal in 2018. Those sanctions were only exacerbated by Trump’s successor Joe Biden, dealing heavy blows to the economy and 90 million Iranians.

Iran’s currency continues to hover around all-time low rates as a result of external pressure and local mismanagement, but it regained some lost ground after the talks concluded without collapsing, showing market eagerness for a deal.

The European powers party to the 2015 accord, namely France, the United Kingdom and Germany, have also been imposing sanctions on Iran, both due to its nuclear advances in the aftermath of Trump’s withdrawal and because of tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war.

The European Union on Friday said there was “no alternative to diplomacy” while Germany urged both sides to reach a “diplomatic solution”.

China and Russia, the other signatories of the deal, have opposed Western efforts to pressure Iran through passing censure resolutions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They have forged closer political and military ties with Tehran.

Iran has warned it would abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and expel all remaining IAEA nuclear inspectors if the Western powers make good on their threats.

Trump and his officials, along with top Israeli leaders, have repeatedly warned that Iran would be extensively bombed if it fails to agree to their demands over its nuclear programme. Israel remains the biggest opponent of any prospective Iran-US agreement.

US and Israeli leaders have suggested main nuclear facilities, refineries and civilian infrastructure like power plants would be attacked if negotiations fail.

On Thursday, Washington imposed additional sanctions on Iran, targeting its oil network and nuclear programme.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has discussed with Trump the so-called “Libyan model” to deal with Iran’s nuclear programme, meaning he is seeking a full dismantlement and surrender of all nuclear capabilities.

But Tehran has remained defiant, arguing nuclear knowledge and development gained over decades cannot be bombed or destroyed.

It has maintained that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful and for civilian use, such as for power generation and manufacturing of radiopharmaceuticals, but senior officials have signalled the Iranian establishment could go for a bomb if facing an “existential threat”.

Iran’s army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have also been holding large-scale exercises and testing a variety of defensive and offensive weapons in an attempt to signal strength and readiness for a prolonged conflict if necessary.

...................................

My Opinion:

I think this is good news. We know from quite a few sources that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons. They have a nuclear program for civilian use. They are also part of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, and a Fatwa has been issued a while back forbidding  nuclear weapons development. Russia also would not be allies with them if they were pursuing a nuclear weapon. So it's very clear they do not have a nuclear weapon. Our government even said as much. 

 

(The only country that has nuclear weapons capability and is NOT part of the Nuclear Proliferation Act is Israel.)

[Retrobyter]

1 hour ago, Luther said:

 

 Iran, US conclude ‘constructive’ nuclear talks in Oman, agree to meet again

 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says high-level talks were conducted in ‘constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect’.

By Maziar Motamedi

Published On 12 Apr 2025

12 Apr 2025

Tehran, Iran – Delegates from the United States and Iran agreed to hold more talks next week after concluding “indirect” nuclear negotiations in the Omani capital, Muscat.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Saturday’s talks as having been conducted in a “constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect”, and said chief negotiators “spoke for several minutes in the presence of the Omani Foreign Minister while leaving the negotiations venue”.

 

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff headed the US delegation, while the Iranians were led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He was accompanied by his deputy for political affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, deputy for international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi acted as chief mediator, taking messages between the delegations who were sitting in separate rooms.

The White House issued a statement saying the talks were “positive and constructive”. “These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome,” it said, adding the sides agreed to “meet again next Saturday.”

While Trump and his officials had insisted the talks would be “direct” and “in the same room”, Tehran had stressed that the negotiations would be indirect.

Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays quoted a source close to the negotiations that both sides were asked to produce a position paper, laying out the areas they think are important for the discussion and their red lines.

Iran has emphasised that the talks will solely be focused on its nuclear programme, and not its military capabilities or its “axis of resistance” of aligned forces across the region.

Shortly before the talks, US President Donald Trump again warned Tehran of military action if a deal is not reached.

“I want them not to have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on his way to Florida on Friday night.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also reiterated a refrain favoured by the Trump administration, saying “there will be all hell to pay” if the president’s demands are not met.

“We’ve been very clear that Iran is never going to have a nuclear weapon, and I think that’s what led to this meeting,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.

‘Real and fair’ deal

Iran and its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have emphasised that the US cannot be trusted and Iran would not sit down with US officials directly, because Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 during his first term as president.

It remains unclear whether the second round of the talks will be direct or carried out similarly to Saturday’s mediated negotiations.

Before the talks, a senior aide to Supreme Leader Khamenei said Tehran is seeking a “real and fair” agreement with Washington.

“Far from putting up a show and merely talking in front of the cameras, Tehran is seeking a real and fair agreement, important and implementable proposals are ready,” Ali Shamkhani posted on X on Friday.

The 2015 accord put stringent limits on Iran’s enrichment of uranium, stockpiles of nuclear material, and research and development in exchange for lifting United Nations sanctions.

The US had imposed its harshest sanctions yet after reneging on the deal in 2018. Those sanctions were only exacerbated by Trump’s successor Joe Biden, dealing heavy blows to the economy and 90 million Iranians.

Iran’s currency continues to hover around all-time low rates as a result of external pressure and local mismanagement, but it regained some lost ground after the talks concluded without collapsing, showing market eagerness for a deal.

The European powers party to the 2015 accord, namely France, the United Kingdom and Germany, have also been imposing sanctions on Iran, both due to its nuclear advances in the aftermath of Trump’s withdrawal and because of tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war.

The European Union on Friday said there was “no alternative to diplomacy” while Germany urged both sides to reach a “diplomatic solution”.

China and Russia, the other signatories of the deal, have opposed Western efforts to pressure Iran through passing censure resolutions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They have forged closer political and military ties with Tehran.

Iran has warned it would abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and expel all remaining IAEA nuclear inspectors if the Western powers make good on their threats.

Trump and his officials, along with top Israeli leaders, have repeatedly warned that Iran would be extensively bombed if it fails to agree to their demands over its nuclear programme. Israel remains the biggest opponent of any prospective Iran-US agreement.

US and Israeli leaders have suggested main nuclear facilities, refineries and civilian infrastructure like power plants would be attacked if negotiations fail.

On Thursday, Washington imposed additional sanctions on Iran, targeting its oil network and nuclear programme.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has discussed with Trump the so-called “Libyan model” to deal with Iran’s nuclear programme, meaning he is seeking a full dismantlement and surrender of all nuclear capabilities.

But Tehran has remained defiant, arguing nuclear knowledge and development gained over decades cannot be bombed or destroyed.

It has maintained that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful and for civilian use, such as for power generation and manufacturing of radiopharmaceuticals, but senior officials have signalled the Iranian establishment could go for a bomb if facing an “existential threat”.

Iran’s army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have also been holding large-scale exercises and testing a variety of defensive and offensive weapons in an attempt to signal strength and readiness for a prolonged conflict if necessary.

...................................

My Opinion:

I think this is good news. We know from quite a few sources that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons. They have a nuclear program for civilian use. They are also part of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, and a Fatwa has been issued a while back forbidding  nuclear weapons development. Russia also would not be allies with them if they were pursuing a nuclear weapon. So it's very clear they do not have a nuclear weapon. Our government even said as much. 

 

(The only country that has nuclear weapons capability and is NOT part of the Nuclear Proliferation Act is Israel.)

Shalom, @Luther.

OR, so they say. A "nuclear program for civilian use" would be for nuclear electrical plants, but in the past, those have been complicated by how they are handled and maintained.

Such a claim could also be a cover for a "nuclear weapon development program." They should be VERY AWARE that Israel is going to be watching them VERY CLOSELY! They CANNOT be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. They don't have the restraint to avoid using such a power, if it was available, and they are physically TOO CLOSE to Israel for comfort! Someone might have the "itchy trigger finger" on the button! If such a program was discovered, Israel would strike against them first, and rightly so! Their survival would be a priority, and they know that Muslims are not that closely bound to each other. They distrust each other, and a radical stance would justify the killing of other Muslims so that they could be "martyrs" for the cause! They might say that they are against killing other Muslims, but "if there was no other way," they would kill their own "for the greater good."

However the talks proceed, they must arrive at a verifiable solution with periodic checks to maintain the lack of nuclear devices.

[Luther]

11 hours ago, Retrobyter said:

Shalom, @Luther.

OR, so they say. A "nuclear program for civilian use" would be for nuclear electrical plants, but in the past, those have been complicated by how they are handled and maintained.

Such a claim could also be a cover for a "nuclear weapon development program." They should be VERY AWARE that Israel is going to be watching them VERY CLOSELY! They CANNOT be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. They don't have the restraint to avoid using such a power, if it was available, and they are physically TOO CLOSE to Israel for comfort! Someone might have the "itchy trigger finger" on the button! If such a program was discovered, Israel would strike against them first, and rightly so! Their survival would be a priority, and they know that Muslims are not that closely bound to each other. They distrust each other, and a radical stance would justify the killing of other Muslims so that they could be "martyrs" for the cause! They might say that they are against killing other Muslims, but "if there was no other way," they would kill their own "for the greater good."

However the talks proceed, they must arrive at a verifiable solution with periodic checks to maintain the lack of nuclear devices.

Iran is part of the NPT ( which allows inspections of the facilities) while Israel is not. Other reliable sources ( including from  the U.S. ) show that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. 

Israel is the only country the Middle East that has nuclear weapons. For the record, Israel has the " Sampson option", which means that in the event that they feel their existence is being threatened they will detonate all of their nuclear weapons......AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH IRAN? 

[George]

1 hour ago, Luther said:

Iran is part of the NPT ( which allows inspections of the facilities) while Israel is not. Other reliable sources ( including from  the U.S. ) show that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. 

Israel is the only country the Middle East that has nuclear weapons. For the record, Israel has the " Sampson option", which means that in the event that they feel their existence is being threatened they will detonate all of their nuclear weapons......AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH IRAN? 

Iran is the nation that is threatening a genocide.  Israel is simply fighting the spirit of genocide!  

Why do you find this strange?  It's a spiritual war detailed in Daniel.

Dan 10:12  Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard. And I have come for your words. 
Dan 10:13  But the ruler of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 
Dan 10:14  Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is yet for many days. 

Dan 12:1  And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; until that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

It's a spiritual war -- there's a side that ultimately wins!  Choose your side!

God has a plan for Iran ... he is redeeming them!

Jer 49:34  The Word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 

Jer 49:35  So says Jehovah of Hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 

Jer 49:36  And I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven on Elam, and will scatter them toward all these winds. And there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come. 

Jer 49:37  For I will cause Elam to be afraid before their enemies and before those who seek their life. And I will bring evil on them, even My fierce anger, says Jehovah. And I will send the sword after them until I have destroyed them; 

Jer 49:38  and I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy the king and the rulers from there, says Jehovah. 

Jer 49:39  But it shall be in the latter days, I will bring again the exile of Elam, says Jehovah. 

Be blessed,

George

[Alive]

I read somewhere a while back that this great departure could be caused by a nuclear site being hit or compromised and thus releasing massive radiation. Jeremiah has clearly not been fulfilled that I know of….one of the more clear prophecies.

[George]

In the 2 passages above ... both passages use the term -- Acharit HaYamin -- which literally means -- In the End of days.

It's not used very often in Scripture and the times it's used all refer to the days before the Messiah's return to establish His Kingdom.

Latter Days connection to the Tribes

Genesis 49:1 - And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last ^H319 days.

 

Latter Days connection to the Messiah's rule

 

Numbers 24:¹⁴ And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

¹⁵ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

¹⁶ He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

¹⁷ I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

 

Latter Days Connection to the Restoration of Israel to the Land -- and also to the Lord

Deut 4:2⁷ And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

²⁸ And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

²⁹ But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

³⁰ When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

³¹ (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

 

Latter Days connection to the Rebuilt Temple, the Peace of the Messiah's Reign, and the Prominence of Jerusalem

Isaiah 2:² And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

³ And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

⁴ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

 

Latter Days Connection to Gog / Magog War -- Restoration of the World

Ezekiel 38:16 King James Version (KJV) 

- Read this chapter

¹⁶ And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

--

²³ Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

 

The Spiritual Harlotry of Israel -- and its restoration back to their Messiah

Hosea 3:

³ And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

⁴ For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

⁵ Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

 

Be blessed,

George

[chirpy]

https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea-grossi-enriched-uranium-weapon-0525819542521d5f89bd09008f42cb2f

The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of Oct. 26, 2024, Iran has 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since the last report in August.

Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

“The Iranian regime continues to amass a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there is no credible civilian purpose and they continue to not cooperate fully with the IAEA,” he added.

Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. He has acknowledged the U.N. agency cannot guarantee that none of Iran’s centrifuges may have been peeled away for clandestine enrichment.

 

 

[Alive]

For what it’s worth, I think Iran will be dealt with as the situation cannot stand.

Zelensky, in my opinion is insane and possible possessed…Putin is a bad man on a mission.

Beyond that, it’s in the Lord’s hands. Psalm 2.

[Luther]

( 2nd Installment):

Nearly 600 children killed, 1,600 injured in renewed Israeli assault on Gaza: UN Nearly 600 children have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since last month, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Monday, Anadolu reported.

Citing figures released by the UN children’s agency (UNICEF), UNRWA said that over 1,600 other children have also been injured since Israel resumed its assaults on 18 March.

“The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is now likely at its worst point since October 2023,” it added.

The Israeli army resumed its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on 18 March and has since killed 1,864 people and injured nearly 4,900 others despite a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

More than 51,200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

................................

Keep in mind that it's not only Muslims being killed but our brothers and sisters in Christ. I don't know if that helps to convey that. God is against murder. Killing unarmed civilians ( no matter what your beliefs are ) is completely unjustifiable. And mostly all non Christians would agree.