Iran - Part of an Axis of Evil
(Signs of the Time - March 2002)
The political landscape is changing again. After the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, the nations of the world rallied around the United States and went out of their way to ensure the Americans would not include them in reprisal attacks. For instance, the Iranian government condemned al Qaeda’s attack on the United States and, in fact, Tehran offered limited military support in announcing that U.S. warplanes could land on Iranian soil in an emergency.
It looked as if the political landscape would continue to remain contrary to those of prophecies concerning the latter days. However, in early February, 2002, in his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush claimed Iran was part of the “Axis of Evil.” This month’s article will look at the recent events regarding Iran, and conclude that indeed we are now witnessing first hand, signs that the latter days are now upon us.
State of the Union address
In President Bush’s State of the Union address in early February, he
reclassified Iran from a rogue state to membership in an “Axis of Evil.”
In doing so he placed Iran in the same category as Iraq and North Korea.
Stratfor on-line reported that Iran has been working diligently to make friends and peace with the United States. “Iran’s policy had been evolving for quite a while under President Mohammed Khatami, who appeared to be seeking an opening to the United States and the West. The United States certainly encouraged this. First, a better relationship with Iran was an end in itself. Second, since the United States has a core regional policy of maintaining the balance of power between Iran and Iraq, having leverage with Iran was geopolitically desirable. Finally, maintaining a split between the Wahhabi-dominated al Qaeda and the vast Shiite community in Iran and elsewhere made sense.”
Therefore, Bush’s speech represents an admission that the process has failed. Interestingly, the president condemned what he called a handful of unelected officials who have Iran in their grip. In doing so, he was trying to draw a distinction between Khatami, who was elected, and the Ayatollah Khamenei. This gives a sense of what the Bush administration feels has happened. The conservative Khamenei has blocked Khatami’s attempt at rapprochement with the United States. Moreover, Washington is concerned that Khamenei has entered into some sort of agreement with al Qaeda.
Again, Stratfor on-line helps to explain the reclassification. “In publicly redefining U.S. relations with Iran, Bush may have been trying to warn Iran and Khatami about the consequences of Iran’s strategy. This could as easily undermine as it could strengthen Khatami’s hand. More important, it sets the stage for reconciliation between Iraq and Iran, which despite being bitter enemies, now share a common interest in limiting U.S. power in the region.”
Iran’s reaction
Iran reacted quickly to the news that they are part of the “Axis of
Evil.” They took several aggressive steps to allay fears that they are
indeed part of an evil empire. As reported in the New York Times,
February 5, 2002, “Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi challenged
Washington to provide intelligence supporting U.S. allegations that al Qaeda
members fled Afghanistan through Iran. ‘Instead of waging negative
propaganda, the Americans had better give us any information they have so
that we can go after al Qaeda members and keep them out of Iran,’”
Kharrazi told reporters.
The second step Iran took was to initiate a tax on Islamic charitable foundations. Although the tax will help the beleaguered Iranian economy, its main purpose is intended to curb the country’s religious extremists.
The obvious quick solution for Iran is to look to their neighbors for help. That is to say, Iran should look to Iraq for support against the US, if only to provide for an insurance policy should the U.S. decide to press further. Fortunately for them they didn’t have to approach the Iraqi government for assistance, Iraq approached them. As reported in Stratfor on-line: “Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said Iraq would do its ‘utmost’ to improve ties with Iran, the Iranian Students’ News Agency reported December 31. Sabri said the two countries need to establish good neighborly relations and that recent exchanges of prisoners of war would lay that groundwork.”
As we watch with intense interest this ebb and flow of current events, let us pray the Lord may come quickly and begin establishment of his reign of peace and righteousness.
George Rayner