ONGOING REACTIONS TO A “VERY BAD DEAL” WITH IRAN: JNN editors continue to present the united response of Israel’s military, security and government leaders to the 14 July, 2015, USA-led nuclear agreement reached with Iran – along with reactions and opinions of its residents and experts further afield, including those in neighboring Arab states. Intercessors please pray that Israel will know how to prepare in the wake of this nationally-endangering agreement, six world-powers made with the Islamic Republic. Not only Iran’s continued threats to wipe out the state of Israel and the increasing nuclear capability it will have to do so, but Iran’s widespread support of terrorists groups targeting Israel and the lifted sanctions enabling it to pump millions of dollars more into terrorist coffers requires a major shift in Israel’s strategies. Intercede also that the USA Congress will veto this very bad deal across the board. Please carry these concerns to your prayer groups. JNN editors will continue to keep you updated on this and other issues concerning Israel, the Jewish people and the Middle East.
KRAUTHAMMER: US ‘CAPITULATION’ MAKES IRAN ‘FREE’ TO ACT AT WILL: The Iran deal is so bad, asserted prize-winning syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer that “I think even skeptics of the deal have been shocked by the degree of the capitulation.” Over the past several days, Krauthammer has written several pieces and discussed in interviews his disappointment with the deal he calls a farce. “We gave in on the idea of them having to dismantle their enrichment,” Krauthammer said. “But even worse is the final capitulation, which was a giving in to a lifting of the embargo on ballistic missiles and conventional arms.”
Krauthammer said while it is impossible to know if Iran will actually allow international inspectors into its nuclear facilities, there is one aspect of the agreement that has already come to fruition. The sanctions imposed on Iran “are now dead as a result of this agreement,” Krauthammer argued. “Obama will, within days, go to the Security Council making almost totally irrelevant what Congress does. They are going to pass a UN resolution. It will probably be unanimous in approving the deal and part of that move will be to cancel all previous resolutions on sanctions.” he stated. “We have no idea if the inspections are going to work,” Krauthammer continued. “They won’t. They’re ridiculous with the almost one month of notice. We have no idea what’s going to happen with the embargoes, but we know one thing. The sanctions are done. Iran is now free. They will not be re-imposed and that is a huge success for Iran.” (Fox News/Arutz-7)
WEST TO TEACH IRAN HOW TO BLOCK ISRAELI NUCLEAR SABOTAGE: Disturbing points of the Iran nuclear deal signed Tuesday, 14 July, 2015 continue to come to light. One detail tucked away near the end of the deal’s massive text is a section entitled “Nuclear Safety, Safeguards and Security,” which stipulates the West will train Iran to thwart sabotage against its nuclear facilities. According to text, Iran will learn how to secure its controversial and covert nuclear program from all threats thanks to training by the P5+1 countries consisting of the USA, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China, as well as the EU. The section begins with a clause saying that PF+1 parties, and possibly other states, are prepared to cooperate with Iran to establish a Nuclear Safety Center in Iran, and to engage in training events there.” But then things take a turn, with the same world powers obligating to “co-operation in the form of training courses to strengthen Iran’s ability to prevent, protect and respond to nuclear security threats to nuclear facilities and systems as well as to enable sustainable nuclear security and physical protection systems.” Leaving no doubts about the intentions, the text then promises “co-operation through training and workshops to strengthen Iran’s ability to protect against nuclear security threats, including sabotage.” (Arutz-7)
POLL: ISRAELIS OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED TO IRAN DEAL: Nearly three-fourths of the Israeli public believe the West’s deal with Iran on its nuclear program will not prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons within the next decade. In contrast, the poll, conducted this week by the Sarid Institute, found that only 10% of respondents “trust” the USA and believe it will prevent an Iranian bomb. Almost 70% of Israelis oppose the final agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 world powers, while only 10% support it. Twenty percent of respondents had no opinion on the subject. As to what Israel’s response to the deal should be, a third of Israelis polled answered that Israel should attack Iran’s nuclear sites. Forty percent said there was no need for Israel to strike, while the rest voiced no opinion. (INN) Pray that Israel’s people will increasingly cry out to the Lord to be their ultimate protector and defender in every circumstance. “Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.” Ps 88:1
‘IRAN WAS ON THE VERGE OF GIVING UP NUKE PROGRAM’: An Israeli official stated to Israel Radio on Thursday 16 July, 2015 that with just a little more pressure, Iran would have given in completely on its nuclear program. But, the United States and its international partners failed by not being tough enough on Tehran, and conceding too many points too quickly. Iran, according to the official, was seriously “on the skids” – bankrupt to a degree far greater than Westerners realized. Nearly a decade of sanctions had taken its toll, and without a lifting of the sanctions, the government there realized it would soon be likely swept away by angry Iranians, who, leaders estimated, were desperate enough to rebel even given the country’s repressive political system. With the nuclear deal, the pressure on Iran has been lifted, the official said, but had the USA held out a little longer, Iran would have capitulated and agreed to dismantle its nuclear program altogether. (Arutz-7)
IRAN RENEWS FINANCIAL AID TO HAMAS AND ISLAMIC JIHAD IN WAKE OF NUKE DEAL: After four months when Iran delayed transferring financial assistance to Hamas and Islamic Jihad because of budgetary concerns, it has in the last few days renewed the flow of money to Palestinian terror groups in Gaza – precisely because the new accord with the West gave it the confidence to do so. Iran emerges from this accord strengthened, stable and with endless resources that will be directed to weaken Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the Gulf States and Israel by every means possible. Additionally, in this year’s budget, President Rouhani’s administration has already increased Iran’s defense budget by 32.5%. (Times of Israel)
ARAB STATES FEAR NUCLEAR DEAL WILL GIVE IRAN A BIGGER REGIONAL ROLE: Some Arab nations are worried that the Iran nuclear agreement will allow Iran to fund proxy wars and extend its regional influence, with one Saudi diplomat describing the deal as “extremely dangerous.” He said, “If sanctions are lifted, Iran will try even harder to redesign the region. Iran is trying to change the Middle East, and this is unacceptable to Sunnis.” Meanwhile, Iran’s ally, Syrian President Assad, describing the deal as a “great victory.” (Washington Post)
WIFE OF USA PASTOR HELD IN IRAN: MY HUSBAND WRONGLY OVER LOOKED IN NUCLEAR DEAL: President Barack Obama should have secured the release of jailed USA citizens before sealing a nuclear deal with Iran, and the accord should not win congressional approval until their freedom is guaranteed, the wife of a detained Iranian-American pastor said this week. Saeed Abedini, 35, a naturalized USA citizen, was sentenced by an Iranian court in 2013 to eight years in prison for allegedly compromising Iran’s national security by setting up home-based Christian churches in his native country. His wife, Naghmeh Abedini of Boise, Idaho, said her husband has faced threats to his life from Islamic terrorists held in the same prison west of Tehran and that his physical and psychological health has deteriorated from a lack of medical care and from stays in solitary confinement.
Abedini is one of three Americans known to be currently detained in Iran. His spouse said their release should have been assured before Obama even agreed to the talks that produced a deal aimed at restricting Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Obama in response said any notion that he was content with Americans being held in Iran was “nonsense,” but insisted that including their fate in the talks would only have undermined the USA bargaining position. Obama delivered the same message to Naghmeh Abedini and the couple’s two young children when he visited them in Boise in January, 2015 she said. (J. Post) Intercede for the soon release of Saeed Abedini from the debilitating conditions of Iranian prison. Pray that he and his loved ones will receive divine mercy, comfort and courage. Pray also for the soon release of other USA citizens being held in Iran. “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Heb 13:3
VATICAN SEES IRAN DEAL IN ‘A POSITIVE LIGHT’: The Holy See lauded the nuclear deal struck between Iran and world powers this week, asserting that it views the agreement in “a positive light.” Federico Lombardi, the head of the Holy See Press Office said, “It constitutes an important outcome of the negotiations carried out so far, although continued efforts and commitment on the part of all involved will be necessary in order for it to bear fruit. It is hoped that those fruits will not be limited to the field of nuclear program, but may indeed extend further,” he added. (Jerusalem Post)
CANADA TO KEEP SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN: Canada will keep its sanctions in place despite the nuclear agreement Iran has reached with major world powers. Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson said in a statement that Canada “will continue to judge Iran by its actions, not its words. We will examine this deal further before taking any specific Canadian action.” (Globe and Mail, Canada)
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The suggestions, opinions and scripture references made by JNN writers and editors are based on the best information received.
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff
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