If you watched my Breaking News Update from Saturday, you will know that the mood is as tense as it has ever been between Israel and Iran. The Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz, said that Israel is actively preparing for war with the terrorist regime in Tehran. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is regularly conducting exercises, as is the civilian population that is preparing in case of an attack.
The tension all centers on the fact that Iran either has enough or is on the verge of having enough weapons-grade uranium to make a bomb. Israel has no doubt that when Iran has a bomb, they will use it on us. How do we know? They’ve told us. Just Sunday, Senior spokesman and brigadier general in the Iranian army, Sardar Shekarchi, said before the opening of the nuclear talks in Vienna, “We will not retreat even one millimeter from the disappearance of the occupying regime in Jerusalem in the world, reminded that the destruction of the occupying regime in Jerusalem is the greatest goal, and the great goal we [will] pursue.”
As a result of Iran’s continued threats and their pursuit of nuclear weapons, Israel is weighing its options, particularly if the nuclear talks in Vienna fall through. The United States is telling Israel to not attack, saying it won’t work. If Israel does strike, there is the possibility that it can trigger an Ezekiel War scenario. All sides are ready for a full-blown confrontation. For a scenario as to how this might all play out, please see this post from my Telegram.
Not only is the regime in Tehran dangerous to the rest of the world, but they are also violent to their own people. Iranian security forces took violent action and made numerous arrests at what were peaceful protests along the dried up Zayadneh Rood River put on by citizens who are suffering because of the lack of water management.
The Lebanese lira is at a historic new low, trading at 25,000 liras to one dollar. Basic staples are becoming harder to afford and the government must heavily subsidize many purchases. As a result, citizens are rioting in Beirut, Tripoli, and Sidon.
Turkey is also watching as its currency disintegrates. The Turkish lira has lost 20% of its value in the last two weeks. President Erdogan blames his crashing economy on “money barons” who are attacking his country.
Since we’re already in Turkey, let’s just bounce across the Bosporus into Europe because there has been some interesting geopolitical developments there. In the continuing feud between Russia and Ukraine, the latter claims that it has uncovered a coup plot by the former. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gave no further details, and the Russians were quick to deny the allegation. Still, NATO warned Moscow that they better tread lightly when it comes to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin was quick to hit back saying that if NATO deployed its US missiles next door to his country, he would be forced to act.
There is more good Israel relationship news this week. Israel and Qatar have signed a trade agreement, their first since relations between the two countries were severed. The agreement allows Qatar to join the list of countries approved to trade diamonds, and in return Israeli diamond traders will be allowed free access into Qatar and will even be able to set up offices if they wish.
Israel and the UK have also deepened their relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding that includes a detailed roadmap to create strategic partnership within the realms of political, military, technological, commercial, and scientific relations.
