Saturday, August 21, 2010

In the news: Iran

First up: Iran's nuclear reactor

"Iran prepares to start up first nuclear reactor"

Nationwide celebrations are planned for the fuel loading at the Bushehr facility in southern Iran, while Russia pledges to safeguard the plant and prevent spent nuclear fuel from being shifted to a possible weapons program.

What concerns America and others — including Russia — is Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to make fuel for nuclear arms.

Of greater concern to the West, however, are Iran's stated plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites inside protected mountain strongholds. Iran said recently it will begin construction on the first one in March in defiance of the U.N. sanctions


"Iran begins loading Bushehr nuclear reactor"

Iran has begun loading fuel into its first nuclear power station in a ceremony attended by Russian officials.

"Despite all pressure, sanctions and hardships imposed by western nations, we are now witnessing the startup of the largest symbol of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities," Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi told journalists at the plant.

The BBC's Jon Leyne says Iranian officials have promoted Saturday's launch as a victory for the Islamic republic against its enemies. Nationwide celebrations are planned to mark the event.


"After years of delays, Iran begins fueling first nuclear reactor with Russian help"

Washington and other nations do not oppose Iran's stated aim of producing nuclear energy, but are concerned that if Iran masters the enrichment cycle it would have a pathway to weapons production under the convenient cover of a peaceful energy program. Iran denies such an intention.

It is the enrichment work that has been the target of four rounds of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Of greater concern to the West, however, are Iran's stated plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites inside protected mountain strongholds. Iran said recently it will begin construction on the first one in March in defiance of the U.N. sanctions.



Iran is really feeling empowered right now - see what else they are up to right now:


"Iran Test Fires, Touts Advanced Surface-To-Surface Missile Day Ahead Of Nuclear Reactor Launch"

Nothing like a little geopolitical ruckus to spoil the fun...the fun. Xinhua reports that hours ago, and just a day before the Bushehr nuclear reactor is supposed to go online, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran had test fired a surface-to-surface missile, Qiam, footage of which was shown on state television. Surely this fits well as a time slot segue from the recent clip showing mass graves prepared for Iran's "aggressors."

Iran's new surface-to-surface missile, Qiam, has been successfully test-fired, Vahidi said in Friday prayers in Tehran.

"Being a new class of Iranian missiles, Qiam has been equipped with new technical specifications and exceptional tactical powers, " Vahidi was quoted as saying.

One of the features of the missile is that "it does not have flippers and this provides it with higher tactical capabilities," the minister said.

Another feature of the missile is that the possibility of being targeted by other missiles is very low, Fars news agency quoted him as saying.

Vahidi did not specify the location and the time of the test.

Vahidi's remarks came a day before the country's Bushehr nuclear power plant operations startup.



More here:

"Iran broadcasts missile launch on state television"

Ahmad Vahidi’s announcement comes a day before Iran is scheduled to launch its Russian-built first nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr.

Television images showed the sand coloured Qiam (Rising) blasting into the air from a desert terrain, amid chants of “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest).

The words “Ya Mahdi” were written on the side of the missile, referring to Imam Mahdi, one of the 12 imams of Shiite Islam, who disappeared as a boy and whom the faithful believe will return one day to bring redemption to mankind.

“The missile has new technical aspects and has a unique tactical capacity,” he said on state television, adding that the device was of a “new class.”
“Since the surface-to-surface missile has no wings, it has lot of tactical power, which also reduces the chances of it being intercepted,” he said.

Also during government week, the production lines of two missile-carrying speedboats, Seraj (Lamp) and Zolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali’s sword) are due to be inaugurated, while a long-range drone, Karar, is expected to be unveiled.

The firing of Qiam comes days after a top commander from the Revolutionary Guards said Iran will mass produce replicas of the Bladerunner 51, often described as the world’s fastest boat, and equip them with weapons to be deployed in the Gulf.


Obviously, from this article, one can see how much Iran's build-up for war is continuing. Unwittingly, they are preparing for the battle described in Ezekiel 38-39. We are watching Iran, in all of their boldness and now, newfound cockiness - prepare to march directly into their destruction.

Ezekiel's description of subsequent events (subsequent to their ongoing build-up to war) is quite clear. Iran, along with Russia and Turkey and the northern African states have no idea the massive destruction that is coming their way. It's God's will and His plan and it will happen exactly as the Bible has described.

God is firmly in control and His plan is being carried out exactly as He directs.

That is always worth remembering.

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