Iran at War With USA and Europe
Newsmax wrote on December 27:
“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is at war with the West and Israel. ‘In my opinion, we are in a full-fledged war with America, Israel, and Europe; they do not want our country to stand on its feet,’ he said Saturday…
“Pezeshkian said the West’s war against Iran is ‘more complicated and more difficult’ compared to the 1980-88 war with Iraq that left more than 1 million casualties on both sides. ‘In the war with Iraq, the situation was clear: they fired missiles, and I also knew where to hit. Here, they are besieging us from every aspect, they are putting us in difficulty and constraint, creating problems – in terms of livelihood, culturally, politically, and security-wise – while raising society’s expectations,’ he said…
“The remarks came two days before a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during which Iran is expected to be a key topic in the talks. Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran that came during a 12-day air war in June killed nearly 1,100 Iranians including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Retaliatory missile barrages by Iran killed 28 in Israel.”
The New York Post added on December 27:
“Iran’s president declared they were in a ‘total war’ with the US, Israel and Europe, just as Tehran looks to rebuild its nuclear capabilities and strengthen ties with Hamas…
“As tensions between the Middle Eastern rivals ramps up, a Tehran-backed candidate is also likely to win a major election to a leading role with Hamas… al-Hayya is considered to be close to Iran, according to those same sources who told the outlet he would have a clearly adversarial stance toward Israel — as a tenuous Gaza peace deal hangs in the balance…
“Israeli sources claim that the Islamic Republic is repairing its air defense systems and rebuilding its ballistic missile program… Netanyahu remains skeptical of the plan to demilitarize Gaza…”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was widely considered by the USA and the EU as a moderate-reformist, promising more social freedoms (like women’s hijab choice), better nuclear talks, and economic relief.
Europe Shifts Away From USA and Israel
The Jerusalem Post wrote on December 29:
“… the US, Israel, and Europe, the ones listed as enemies by Iran, should all be friends. But the truth is that they are not all friends… The US and Israel are certainly openly, publicly, and historically the best of friends on the international stage… It is Europe that is the problematic part of the equation…
“The Iranian President does not have a proper understanding of Europe. Europe is not merely moving further and further away from the US and Israel in terms of diplomacy, doctrine, and politics, but also because Europe is moving closer and closer towards Iran… Europe has fallen into an abyss. Europe has become a branch, an extension, of Islam – and it has a name. Today, there is a phenomenon that is referred to as European Islam… Europe is more and more rapidly, and more and more evidently, shifting away from alliances with the US and, even more so, with Israel. Because their population is shifting toward Islam.
“The US is also shifting. The obvious example is the American political stage. What began with the election of several openly pro-Islam members of Congress blossomed into the election of New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The election of Mamdani is a classic example of not just a shift in American politics, but also of the move away from Israel…
“The metropolitan area of Paris is estimated to be around 10–15% Muslim, with higher concentrations in certain suburbs. London is estimated to be around 12–15% Muslim, with much higher percentages in the areas of Tower Hamlets and Newham. Birmingham is estimated to be 20–22% Muslim. Manchester has about 15–16% Muslims. Brussels is estimated to be around 20–25% Muslim. Marseille is about 25–30%. Rotterdam is about 20–25% Muslim. Amsterdam has around a 15–25% Muslim population. The Hague & Utrecht have around a 13–15% Muslim population.
Berlin is around 9–12% Muslim. Cologne is around 10–12%. Vienna around 10–12%. Copenhagen is about 10%. Stockholm & Malmö each have around 15–20% Muslims…
“The dream of Muslim revolutionaries is to generate influence in the West and then take over. They want to flip the world into a Muslim oriented society. The fulfilment of that dream necessitates a shift away from the US and especially away from Israel.”
Europe is prophesied to shift away from Islam, but their disassociation from the USA and Israel will continue.
Time to Ditch U.S. Aid
Israel 365 News wrote on December 24:
“Israel is on the verge of a decision that could fundamentally alter its relationship with the United States—and the world… The idea of ending $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid might sound unthinkable, but Israel has reached a point where it no longer needs to rely on the U.S. to maintain its security.
“The country’s defense industry is more self-sufficient than ever, capable of developing cutting-edge technology and securing international contracts without U.S. support. And yet, for years, American aid has come with a price: U.S. influence over Israel’s strategic decisions. From the Sinai withdrawal in 1979 to the Iran nuclear deal, American aid has been tied to political concessions, shaping the very direction of Israeli policy…
“The question is whether Israel can afford to cut this tie. After all, the U.S. has been a powerful ally, and the aid has undoubtedly strengthened Israel’s military. But there’s another side to this coin. The dependence on U.S. military assistance has limited Israel’s autonomy, forcing it to align with American policies that don’t always serve its best interests. Israel’s defense decisions, at times, have been dictated by the conditions of foreign aid, leaving it vulnerable to political pressure.
“It’s time for Israel to make its own decisions, without needing Washington’s approval. The country has proven its ability to thrive without the U.S. at its side, from securing billions in defense contracts with countries like Germany and Greece to developing some of the most advanced military technologies in the world…
“There will be fierce resistance, particularly from the U.S. military-industrial complex, which benefits greatly from the current arrangement. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon rely on the billions in defense contracts that U.S. aid provides. But for Israel, cutting this financial dependency would mean regaining control over its strategic decisions and no longer being beholden to outside pressures.
“It’s time for Israel to stop borrowing security from the U.S. and start building its own future—one where it can act without fear of being manipulated, and where its defense decisions are its own to make.”
Building the Temple
The Jerusalem Post wrote on August 25, 2025:
“Against the backdrop of the change in policy on the Temple Mount, Finance Minister (RZP) Bezalel Smotrich spoke to thousands of participants at a conference marking the anniversary of Rabbi Kook’s passing on Sunday. Smotrich spoke twice during the event, which took place at the Jerusalem International Convention Center. His first speech in the afternoon addressed the ongoing war.
“When Smotrich took the stage for a second time, in front of the thousands of people present, Smotrich smiled at Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and said, ‘I will give the money, you will build the Temple.’ The crowd burst into laughter, and sources who were there told Walla that Smotrich said it ‘as a joke’… In response, Lion replied to Smotrich: ‘You are the best finance minister Jerusalem has ever had.’
“… it comes at a time when there is, in fact, a de facto shift in the policy surrounding the Temple Mount.”
Trade War Between China and EU Continues
Reuters wrote on December 22:
“China will impose provisional duties of up to 42.7% on dairy products imported from the European Union, the latest in a series of measures against EU exports widely seen as retaliation for the bloc’s electric vehicle tariffs…
“Trade tensions with the EU erupted in 2023 when the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-made electric vehicles. It imposed tariffs in October 2024. In apparent retaliation, Beijing has imposed measures on imports of EU brandy, pork and now dairy… China imported $589 million of dairy products… in 2024…”
Russia Supports China
ntv reported on December 28:
“Russia has demonstratively sided with its ally China in international conflicts. The government in Moscow rejects Taiwan’s independence in any form and considers the island an inseparable part of China, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a published statement.
“Democratically governed Taiwan is considered a breakaway province by the People’s Republic of China. President Xi Jinping has not ruled out the use of force to reintegrate the island. The US supports Taiwan and has warned against military action.”
Trump Administration Acknowledges Birth of Christ in Christmas Messages
Breitbart wrote on December 26:
“Several agencies and Trump administration officials acknowledged the birth of Jesus Christ in several Christmas messages… ‘Rejoice America, Christ is born!’ DHS wrote in a post on X, which also included a video with the song, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’
“‘Merry Christmas to all,’ [Secretary of War Pete] Hegseth wrote in a post on X. ‘Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May His light bring peace, hope, and joy to you and our families.’
“‘Merry Christmas and aloha from our family to yours,’ [Director of National Intelligence] Gabbard wrote in a post on X. ‘May we spend this day and every day remembering Jesus Christ and following his message to us all: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).’
“‘The joyous message of Christmas is the hope of Eternal Life through Christ,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a post on X. ‘Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season filled with hope and peace.’…
‘‘Praise God!’ one person wrote. ‘I vote for my government to promote the true religion.’”
What a mockery of the concept of true love, true peace, and the true God.
Trump’s Destruction of the Old World Order
On December 27, The Daily Mail published the following remarkable article by Andrew Neil:
“This was the year the old world order ended. The order that had defeated Nazi Germany, the greatest evil the modern world has known, then went on to see off Soviet communism – the other great evil of the age
“The order that rebuilt – from the carnage, ruins and dictatorships of the Second World War – prosperous Western European democracies. Then embraced the new democracies of Eastern Europe as they threw off their communist yoke.
“The order that, for all its many lapses in living up to its principles, placed liberal democracy, human rights and the prosperity of the people at the core of its purpose, leading to the greatest rise in global living standards these past eight decades the world has ever known…
“The old order was no doubt in need of a reboot, a recalibration, a refocusing for the 21st century. Instead, it is being swept away, for no good reason, by an American president with no knowledge of history, little grasp of geopolitics and scant regard for the principles of democracy and freedom which made the world a safer place the more they were adopted across the globe.
“A president… whose only concern is furthering the narrow, short-term interest of an isolationist America… It is the ruthless, unprincipled application to foreign policy… in which everything is reduced to a ‘deal’ and nothing matters but power, money, success and self-interest – attitudes that mark the death knell of an old world order…
“To be replaced by what? We do not yet know for sure. No doubt the coming year will improve our comprehension of what is in store. Those contours that we can already discern are not encouraging.
“Next year will hasten America’s retreat from Europe, which will increasingly be left to its own devices, as President Trump focuses his attention and American power on the Western Hemisphere – where he has imperial ambitions.
“That is why, as 2025 draws to an end, he has assembled a massive armada off the coast of Venezuela. The pretext is a crackdown on drug-smugglers speeding towards America in high-powered boats. The real goal, of course, is to topple Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, whose regime has impoverished the country, even though it sits on the biggest oil reserves in the world.
“The US Navy is now seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan crude oil exports, which account for 90 per cent of Maduro’s revenues. The loss of these funds would be catastrophic for the man in Caracas…
“But there is a further, so far unspoken, purpose to Trump’s Caribbean military adventure: his aim is also to bring down the flailing communist regime in Cuba, which is just as much an economic basket case as Venezuela…
“If Trump could bring down both regimes early in 2026 he would regard it as vindication of his new emphasis on increasing US power in its own backyard. His aim is to surround America with governments that will do its bidding. He’s already achieved that in Panama… Trump has indicated Colombia could be next if Venezuela falls.
“Argentina is already in hock to Washington, with $20 billion of US support for its currency. Canada will remain under pressure to fall in line with whatever is Trump’s latest whim. Even Greenland is still in his sights. He’s just appointed a new envoy who has described his job as ‘a volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US’. The Danes, under whose control Greenland falls, are increasingly nervous.
“The more Trump concentrates on his own backyard, the more the US retreat from Europe will gather pace. I find it astonishing that European leaders have still to grasp the immensity of the geopolitical shift that is now under way.
“It isn’t just that the European leg of Nato can no longer count on US military when the chips are down – the fact is that Trump’s America is no longer even on our side, a harsh reality that will become apparent as next year unfolds…
“The coming year will see the effective end of US financial and military aid to Ukraine. It already started to dry up this year. If Europe means what it says about standing by Ukraine then, in 2026, it will have to become Europe’s war, without American back-up. Despite all the supportive rhetoric it is by no means clear Europe’s leaders are up for this…
“I have little hope of peace breaking out in Ukraine. No Ukrainian leader could accept what President Putin wants: to consolidate his grip on the east; place severe limits on the size of free Ukraine’s military; replace President Zelensky with a leader more disposed to the Kremlin – then wait for the rest of Ukraine to fall into his lap. Patience has always been a key ingredient of Russian strategy.
“Although Putin is the real roadblock to peace, the Russian dictator knows Trump will blame Ukraine (and its European backers) for the lack of progress. He expects Trump to throw his toys out of the pram in frustration sometime in the first half of 2026 and depart the scene, saying it’s now on Europe to handle the conflict while he doubles down on the Western Hemisphere.
“This will hand the advantage to Putin, which is why 2026 is so dangerous… Russian cyber-attacks and sabotage in Europe, which increased this year, will become endemic next year. Russian drones have recently flown over Poland, Germany and Denmark, causing civilian airports to shut.
“These ‘grey-zone’ provocations will intensify next year, designed to intimidate Europe into loosening its commitment to Ukraine. In the next 12 months we will discover if Europe has the backbone to resist them…
“[Trump’s] presidency is now being rocked by a cost-of-living crisis. His MAGA movement is now gripped by low-intensity civil war. The bookies reckon there’s an 80 per cent chance the Republicans will lose the House come the November mid-term elections. That would limit his scope for mischief. But the modern US imperial presidency has plenty of room for maneuver, especially in foreign policy.
“I expect Trump to be as active as ever on that front in 2026. There is talk in the White House of bringing the Kremlin in from the economic cold with a spate of US-Russian energy deals, perhaps even a joint carve-up of Ukrainian resources… I’ve even heard top aides muse about a new world order in Trump’s image. America dominant and unchallenged in the Western Hemisphere. But calling the shots in the rest of the world through a new alliance of America, Russia, China, India and perhaps even Japan (now with a Trump-style leader).
“Europe, of course, is nowhere in any of these plans. If, in 2026, it doesn’t at last dawn on Europe (including Britain) that we’re on our own then I doubt it ever will – at least not before it’s too late.”
An interesting article with insightful comments. But Europe will wake up to reality, and it will emerge as an incredible economic and military power surpassing the USA.
“False Smiles at the Trump Summit”
On December 29, Bild Online published the following commentary by Paul Ronzheimer:
“One day after the summit in Mar-a-Lago, one thing is clear above all: Vladimir Putin (73) remains unyielding on the crucial issues. He is not budging an inch in the negotiations. The friendly atmosphere of the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy cannot disguise the fact that nothing has changed regarding the fundamental positions.
“A Ukrainian government insider told BILD: ‘We can hold countless meetings and have dozens of phone calls, but one thing remains unchanged: Putin wants the entire Donbas – and much more. He has nowhere clearly stated that he wants peace.’…
“A Ukrainian diplomat familiar with the talks told BILD: ‘After phone calls with Putin, we always experience the same pattern. Trump subsequently reverts to the Russian maximalist demands – even though he had previously shown considerable understanding. How are we supposed to agree to a peace that is effectively tantamount to surrender?’…”
“While Europe will be involved, it remains unclear whether European states would be willing to take real military risks – especially in light of Russian threats to consider Western troops as legitimate targets…
“In Ukraine, there is unity within the government and the military: nothing indicates that Putin is willing to make genuine compromises. A Ukrainian military officer told BILD: ‘The intensity of the Russian attacks on all fronts speaks volumes.’”
“Sounds Good, But It’s Not Enough!”
Bild Online wrote on December 29:
“The meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday at Trump’s luxury resort Mar-a-Lago raised high expectations – and at the same time left many doubts.
“While it did bring some movement to the negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine, there can be no talk of a breakthrough.”
Welt Online wrote on December 29:
“The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy ended without any discernible breakthrough…”
Thorniest Issues Unresolved
The Sun wrote on December 29:
“The thorniest issue yet to be resolved is land, the US president said, but security guarantees to end the war were ‘95 per cent done.’ Trump told the Ukrainian leader: ‘You’re better off making a deal now.’
“He said: “I think the land you’re talking about, some of that land has been taken. Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months…’”
Trump Wants to Destroy Europe?
Express wrote on December 29:
“Russia believes Donald Trump wants to ‘destroy Europe’ as the President sparks criticism for his handling of peace talks with Ukraine. Media in Moscow is hailing Trump’s stance, with the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda saying: ‘America no longer sees our country as a threat. The threat is now a militaristic Europe… He sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed to Make America Great Again.’…’
“Russia Thanks Trump and Celebrates ‘Total Victory’ Over Ukraine”
Express wrote on December 31:
“Russian state media has claimed a victory over Ukraine after a Florida summer between Donald Trump and Volodimir Zelensky appears to have forced Ukraine into making concessions…
“According to Russian broadcaster and noted Kremlin Propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, Moscow is delighted with how the meeting went, claiming it was all part of his country’s plan. Speaking on his evening show, Solovyov said: ‘We have achieved a knockout victory’… He also claimed that a call between Trump and Moscow took place shortly before the Ukrainian president landed.
“Solovyov goes on to see that the phone call ‘completely destroyed Zelensky’s plans’… The broadcaster’s statements need to be taken with a grain of salt, but still give an insight into the optimism within the Kremlin for this deal to be weighed in Russia’s favour.
“Their talk has worried many in Kiev, with Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of Hope for Ukraine – a non-profit delivering humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukrainians – slamming Mr Trump’s approach as dangerously detached from reality. Mr Boyechko added: ‘This treats Putin as a co-partner whose approval is needed, signalling to Kyiv that peace will come on Moscow’s terms…’
“Concerns escalated at the joint press conference, where Mr Trump insisted Putin ‘wants to see the war end’ and was ‘very generous’ towards Ukraine succeeding, even pledging Russian help with reconstruction via cheap energy and electricity.”
Trump is indeed dangerously detached from reality.
Russia Prevents Peace
Newsmax wrote on December 31:
“Without adding any comment, President Donald Trump shared a New York Post opinion piece Wednesday that asserts that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ‘bluster’ shows that Russia, not Ukraine, is standing in the way of a peace agreement. The piece, posted on Trump’s Truth Social page Wednesday, accuses Putin of shedding ‘crocodile tears’ through claims that the Ukrainians had launched drones at one of his homes in an attempt to kill him.
“The Post’s editorial board notes that Russia’s reporting came after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence, where several compromises were reached on a peace plan…
“‘It’s rich that Putin, who has waged a brutal war for nearly four years, believes that any violence in his vicinity merits special outrage,’ the Post noted. ‘After all, Russia launched 131 drones on Christmas at Kyiv and other cities, killing seven civilians.’ The publication also said an attack on Putin is ‘more than justified,’ considering the attempts made to assassinate Zelenskyy. Further, the drone attack was not confirmed…”
When the World Doesn’t End…
ntv wrote on December 27:
“It’s a story that repeats itself again and again: A (mostly) religious group announces a specific date for the end of the world. The followers prepare themselves, quit their jobs, sell their houses, and say goodbye to friends. And then… nothing happens…
“William Miller, a Baptist lay preacher from New York, had studied the Bible for years and developed a calculation: Based on the Book of Daniel and some of Jesus’ words from the Gospels, he concluded that Jesus Christ would return in 1844. His message spread like wildfire, and he gained many loyal followers. The so-called ‘Millerites’ were born.
“In the months leading up to the supposed end of the world, which Miller finally scheduled for October 22, 1844, many of the believers prepared themselves for the end. People paid off their debts to stand ‘pure’ before God. Farmers left their fields unharvested, shopkeepers gave away their goods—why accumulate supplies, why earn money, if everything was going to be over soon anyway? Consequently, the despair was great when, on October 23, the sun simply rose as it did every other day…
“Hiram Edson, one of Miller’s most devoted followers, had a revelation ‘the day after’: The date was correct, but the event had been misunderstood! Jesus had not returned to Earth, but had entered the innermost sanctuary of the heavenly temple. Therefore, a new era had not begun visibly on Earth, but invisibly in heaven… This group eventually developed into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a worldwide church with now over 20 million members…”
“One popular strategy is the very spiritualization that the Millerites employed: the event did take place, but on an invisible level. This ‘theological trick’ is also used, for example, by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who expected the return of Christ in 1914. When nothing happened, the leadership declared that Jesus had been invisibly installed as king in heaven…”
Christ said, You do NOT know the exact time of My return.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.