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ROKU AppIran’s Nuclear Program: Where Will It Lead?
Written by Ralph Levy
As Iran’s nuclear enrichment program moves into a new phase in a facility built into the side of a mountain, is a new nuclear arms race inevitable? What will be the final outcome?
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta described it as a “red line.” “They cannot continue to do what they’re doing,” he declared in a Jan. 8 interview with CBS’s Face the Nation.
What exactly are they doing? According to the Iranians, they are enriching uranium for peaceful purposes and to assist cancer patients undergoing medical treatment in Iran. But that claim finds little resonance in the West. The United States, the European Union, Israel and others believe Iran is building up to produce nuclear bombs. Why else, they ask, would they enrich uranium up to 20 percent—higher than is needed for peaceful purposes?
Recent press reports disclose an escalation of Iran’s nuclear enrichment projects at the fortified Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant. The Iranian authorities admit they are installing centrifuges at the plant, which is located near the city of Qom in northern Iran.
Defense Secretary Panetta told CBS host Bob Schieffer, “Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they’re trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that’s what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is do not develop a nuclear weapon. That’s a red line for us.”
What can be done?
But what can be done to prevent it? With the reported new site built into the side of a mountain, attacking it militarily would be difficult, if not almost impossible.
Cyberattacks have apparently already been utilized, with the unleashing of the Stuxnet computer worm in late 2009 and 2010. These attacks reportedly slowed down but didn’t stop Iran’s nuclear march.
What’s more, with several nuclear sites scattered throughout the country, and one or more perhaps still undisclosed, an attack on one would not have the same devastating effect as did Israel’s attack on Syria’s al-Kibar nuclear facility in September of 2007.
Unleashing an arms race
The completion of one or more nuclear bombs by the Islamic Republic of Iran would almost certainly unleash a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Sunni nations such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt might then feel obligated to join in, to defend themselves against Shiite Iran.
Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal was quoted saying as much at a December 2011 security forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He hinted that his country would consider going nuclear in such circumstances. “It is our duty toward our nation and people to consider all possible options, including the possession of these weapons,” he declared.
The prospect of an arms race in this unstable and unpredictable area of the world is chilling. Where will it end, one wonders? How many Middle Eastern nations, some inspired by religious extremism, might join in this dance of death? And might some of those weapons even fall into the hands of terrorists?
Beating plowshares into swords
A scripture comes to mind. Centuries ago the prophet Joel was inspired to foretell a time of terrifying arms races. In a shocking reversal of Isaiah’s famous millennial prophecy, Joel described the threat: “Proclaim this among the nations: ‘Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am strong”’” (Joel 3:9-10).
We are living in such a time now!
Bible prophecy indicates dangerous times are ahead. Jesus Christ Himself prophesied of a time when “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:7). “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [alive]” (verse 22).
Humanity won’t end that way!
Yet there is good news too. In spite of nuclear proliferation and the proliferation of even more terrifying instruments of war, such as chemical and biological weapons, humanity will not end that way! The times of stress and tribulation will be cut short before the worst possible scenario—the complete extinction of the human race—takes place!
“But for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened,” Jesus promised (Matthew 24:22). By God’s mercy—and because of the continued existence of a small but faithful group of human beings who follow in the true paths of righteousness and peace—those days will be cut short before all human life can be obliterated.
Which is, of course, very good news for Iran, for Israel, for Saudi Arabia—and for all of us!
Ralph Levy is a minister of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, who grew up in England and now lives in the United States. Dr. Levy enjoys reading, travel and foreign languages. He has a Ph.D. in biblical studies and has worked in foreign language and religious education for much of his life.
For more about the threat of nuclear war and the promised peaceful Kingdom of God that Jesus will set up at His second coming, see:
