Are we on the verge of a major escalation in the Middle East? The Iranians, the Israelis and the Trump administration all seem to be gearing up for the next chapter in this conflict. Unfortunately, I am convinced that the next chapter will be more chaotic than anything that we have seen so far. That is really bad news for the entire world, because it will essentially guarantee that very little commercial traffic will be getting through the Strait of Hormuz for the foreseeable future.
On Sunday, Major General Mohsen Rezaei made some very alarming statements.
First of all, he stated that the Iranians will soon be creating an exclusion zone outside of the Strait of Hormuz that will start at the US Navy’s blockade line and extend into the Persian Gulf…
A restricted zone will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary said on Sunday.
Mohsen Rezaei said the zone would begin at the US Navy’s blockade line and extend into parts of the Persian Gulf, adding that any vessel entering it would be placed on the Islamic Republic’s sanctions list.
That was big news, but what Rezaei said next was far more important.
He revealed that Iran just tested a brand new anti-ship missile by firing it “above an American warship”…
The top security official also revealed that Iran has successfully tested a new anti-ship missile, saying the test was conducted above a US Navy ship just 48 hours ago.
“For the first time, we tested our anti-ship missile above an American warship,” he said. “This special missile created hell for the Americans, and they fled.”
Rezaei said even US Central Command could not conceal the strike, calling it a warning that the American naval blockade is vulnerable.
Apparently this was just a warning shot.
The Iranians know that if they sink one of our warships it will mean hundreds of U.S. casualties…
Head of Iran’s Security Council Major General Mohsen Rezaei:
“48 Hours ago, for the First Time, we tested a Special Anti-Ship Missile over an American Warship
This Missile created a “hell” for the Americans, and their Warships Fled
Even CENTCOM admitted it and then attacked Three of our Oil Tankers
The Americans must come to their Senses; if we Strike a Warship, they will suffer over 300 Casualties”
Hundreds of dead U.S. sailors and images of a U.S. warship sinking into the ocean would whip the U.S. public into a frenzy.
A sizable portion of the U.S. population would demand revenge, and then there would be turning back.
We do not yet know the identity of the anti-ship missile that the Iranians just tested.
If China is giving “carrier killers” to the Iranians, that would be extremely troubling news.
The Chinese possess anti-ship missiles that can take out an aircraft carrier in one shot from a very long range.
Most Americans do not realize this.
If the Iranians have gotten their hands on such weapons, it would be a game changer.
During his remarks, Rezaei also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely closed”…
In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Rezaei called the Strait of Hormuz “completely closed” and described US President Donald Trump’s claim that the waterway was open as “a big lie.”
He said no more than seven to eight ships were currently passing through the Strait, five to six of them carrying essential goods for Iran.
Rezaei added that the United States sometimes allows five to six vessels to pass along a route near Oman and that those vessels are “usually targeted.”
I would not agree with Rezaei’s assessment.
Some oil tankers have been getting through the Strait.
But not nearly enough.
For months, we were promised that there would soon be a deal with Iran that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
But now U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is openly admitting that there might not ever be a nuclear agreement with Iran…
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Sunday said the U.S. may not reach an elusive deal to constrain Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its seventh month.
“There may not be a nuclear agreement. It may be simply destroying their capabilities to do it,” Wright said on ABC News’ “This Week.” “An agreement may await the next administration in Iran. We simply don’t know that.”
Trump has repeatedly said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a central objective of the U.S. campaign. He has also sought a negotiated deal with Iran throughout the war, which has sent energy prices soaring worldwide.
It appears that the time for diplomacy is over.
So what is the alternative?
The Iranians are pledging to significantly escalate matters if the U.S. attacks again…
The speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened on Sunday to launch swifter and more forceful responses to U.S. attacks, after Tehran targeted American warships in retaliation for US attacks on tankers.
“The Americans must have understood that the era of proportionate responses has come to an end,” said Ghalibaf in a speech carried by state media, adding that “any aggression against Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, more intense and more painful response”.
Of course President Trump is not too concerned about these sorts of threats.
Just a few hours ago, he posted an image of Kharg Island being bombed into oblivion…
Needless to say, that certainly won’t reduce tensions in the region.
As for the Israelis, it appears that they are anticipating renewed fighting with Iran in the near future.
In fact, the Jerusalem Post is reporting that Israeli leaders believe that the Iranians and their allies are “preparing for a broad, coordinated attack against Israel on several fronts simultaneously”…
Iran is reportedly preparing for a broad, coordinated attack against Israel on several fronts simultaneously, Israeli assessments indicate, in a scenario resembling a future October 7-style assault but designed from the outset to bring together all components of the Iranian axis.
According to the alleged assessments, Iran is seeking to combine its own forces with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in a single campaign.
Wow.
If this is true, it changes everything.
Apparently the Iranians have come up with a plan to conduct “a multi-front campaign” in order to put Israeli forces under maximum pressure…
According to reports in Arab media, Tehran is now allegedly seeking to address that gap precisely. The plan under consideration is intended to enable several fronts to operate against Israel at the same time, making a multi-front campaign part of the strategy from the outset.
The change in Hamas’s leadership is also significant in this context. Khalil al-Hayya, who was elected Hamas’s overall leader in July, is considered to have good relations with Iran and has for years been one of the organization’s central figures in maintaining ties with Tehran.
If such a scenario actually unfolds, we would be talking about all-out war.
And if all-out war erupts in the Middle East, it is very likely that someone would end up using unconventional weapons.
Of course there is very little hope for peace at this stage.
Instead, leaders on both sides are simply focused on what it will take to be victorious.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boldly declared that “the end of the Iranian regime is near”…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that “the end of the Iranian regime is near,” adding that its fall would “change the fate of the Middle East and the Jewish people.”
“Together with the United States, we accomplished tremendous achievements in removing an existential threat from above us. We have removed atomic bombs and ballistic missiles from above us and have hit the Iranian axis with great force,” Netanyahu said.
“We are determined to defend ourselves; we are determined to strike our enemies,” he said, adding that Iran and Israel’s other adversaries could “make a mistake” and “suffer a blow they don’t even imagine.”
This echoes a previous statement that Netanyahu made last week.
As I discussed on Friday, Netanyahu has specifically identified regime change in Iran as Israel’s goal.
According to Netanyahu, achieving that goal “will permanently change the face of the Middle East”…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh warning to Iran on Sunday, saying Tehran would face a devastating response if it attacks Israel as he vowed to complete the mission of toppling the Iranian regime.
“That regime in Iran, its end is near,” Netanyahu said at a government Rosh Hashanah toast in Jerusalem, according to a translation from Hebrew. “It is weak. It is fighting for its life. It is faltering. There is another mission to complete, and we are determined to achieve it.
“This will permanently change the face of the Middle East and the history of our people. We know we are determined to do it, and we know we are capable of doing it.”
There is no way that regime change in Iran will be accomplished peacefully.
Let’s be very clear about that.
It appears that Netanyahu is envisioning the sort of “final showdown” with Iran that I wrote about early last year.
History is literally playing out right in front of our eyes.
So much is about to happen, and our world is simply not ready for what is coming next.
Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing. You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter. Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites. These are such troubled times, and people need hope. John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.
