Several recent news stories suggest covert actions — presumably by Israel, the U.S. and possibly other Western intelligence agencies — may, in fact, be slowing down Iran’s nuclear weapons development program. One unconfirmed report indicates that Israeli officials are privately indicating that they will now wait until at least summer 2011 before reassessing the need for possible military strikes. Details below.
Meanwhile, please keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem, according to Psalm 122:6. I believe we serve a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. My Joshua Fund colleagues and I will continue to do everything we can to prepare for the possibility of war (including building a network of humanitarian relief centers in Israel and a network of prayer and financial supporters in the U.S., Canada, and around the world). But we remain hopeful that as followers of Jesus Christ around the world are mobilized to pray, that perhaps the Lord will stave off a new war in the Middle East for a longer time to come. Please join us in praying and preparing for what is ahead.
- BBC: Iran nuclear scientist ‘killed in bomb attack’ — “An Iranian nuclear scientist has been killed and another wounded in two separate but similar attacks, according to Iranian media reports. The scientists were targeted in Tehran by attackers who attached bombs to each of their cars, reports said….”
- AP Exclusive: Troubles stop Iran nuke enrichment — “Iran’s nuclear program has suffered a recent setback, with major technical problems forcing the temporary shutdown of thousands of centrifuges enriching uranium, diplomats told The Associated Press on Monday. The diplomats said they had no specifics on the nature of the problem that in recent months led Iranian experts to briefly power down the machines they use for enrichment — a nuclear technology that has both civilian and military uses. But suspicions focused on the Stuxnet worm, the computer virus thought to be aimed at Iran’s nuclear program, which experts last week identified as being calibrated to destroy centrifuges by sending them spinning out of control….”
- Politico: Israel backs off Iran – for now — “In mid-2011, you will see a debate about whether the sanctions are working,” said one former senior Israeli military official, who noted with some satisfaction that the Iranians had suffered “technical disappointments.”
- FLASHBACK: COVERT WAR UNDERWAY IN IRAN TO SABOTAGE NUCLEAR FACILITIES: NYT article suggests possible link to the Bible’s Book of Esther
At the same time, new reports indicate that several Arab states are deeply concerned that Iran may get nuclear weapons, and have been privately urging U.S. leaders in recent years to launch military strikes rather than let Tehran get the Bomb.
- WikiLeaks: Mideast nations urged strike on Iran — “Secret U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks reveal distress among Mideast nations over Iran with some leaders urging the U.S. to take whatever steps necessary to halt its nuclear program….”
- Report: Gulf states would prefer U.S. strike to a nuclear Iran
Developing…