Western Policy Aimed at Deterring Russia, China Threatens International Peace - Moscow

Western Policy Aimed at Deterring Russia, China Threatens International Peace - Moscow

The policy of the West, which is aimed at deterring Russia and China, poses a threat to international peace and security, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeniy Ivanov said on Monday. 

"If we talk about the external perimeter, then the main threat to international peace and security, in our opinion, is the policy of the West aimed at containing Russia, China and other centers of the emerging multipolar world," Ivanov said at the All-Russian Municipal Forum. 

The West is obsessed with the idea of war with Russia and hinders various agreements, he added.

Moscow remains committed to the understandings reached at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Ivanov said.

"Russia remains committed to the understandings reached at the highest level during the Russian-American summit in Alaska," Ivanov said.

Russia welcomes all mediation efforts on the situation in the Middle East, as Moscow has the same goals, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeniy Ivanov said on Monday.

"We welcome all mediation efforts aimed at advancing the settlement process. The Russian initiative to resume dialogue on the creation of a collective security system in the Persian Gulf zone with the participation of all interested regional states with the support of international mediators is also aimed at solving this problem," Ivanov said.

Russia opposes the recurrence of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran and Lebanon, the diplomat added.

"We categorically oppose the recurrence of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Israel against Lebanon. The unjustified use of military force against civilian and infrastructural facilities has no justification," Ivanov said.

Israel, Iran and The Big Picture:

Iran Is Learning The Hard Way… Nothing Can Thwart God’s Promises To The Nation Of Israel

Tom Gilbreath

A little over ten years ago, then–Secretary of State John Kerry said out loud what much of the media had kept remarkably quiet. He said that Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim terror group that had dominated the nation of Lebanon for decades, possessed an arsenal of 80,000 rockets and ballistic missiles, mostly supplied by Iran.

By then, Israeli intelligence estimated that Hezbollah actually had 100,000 missiles — all aimed at Israel. During the years that followed, Iran upgraded Hezbollah’s missile cache both in quantity and quality. By the time of the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, Hezbollah’s stockpile of missiles and rockets exceeded 150,000. That’s more ballistic missiles than any NATO nation in Europe has in its arsenal. 

As October 7, 2023 dawned, Iran had Israel surrounded. Iran controlled Hezbollah, and Hezbollah controlled Lebanon on Israel’s north. Iran directed Syria on Israel’s northeast. Iran gave arms to, and held the loyalty of, Iraq’s massive Shiite militias to Israel’s east. Yemen’s Houthi rebels were over a thousand miles to Israel’s south, but with sophisticated Iranian missiles and drones, they made their presence felt. Palestinian terrorists carried out an ongoing campaign against Israel from Judea and Samaria (also known as the West Bank). Hamas controlled Gaza to Israel’s west. As Sunni Muslims, Hamas did not hold religious loyalty to Shiite Iran, but it shared Iran’s goal of annihilating Israel and Jews from the face of the earth. Also, Hamas liked Iran’s money and weapons.

Iran, the puppet master, stood a thousand miles away — directing it all. It supplied money, training, intelligence, and strategic direction. They chanted, “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” These were not mere political slogans, but expressions of religious creed. Most people in the West do not know how powerful religious devotion can be, but they should know it can be deadly on a vast scale when it centers on hate.

Iran had oil and oil money. It had the nuclear powers of Russia, China, and North Korea for strategic partners. And Iran had a religious zeal to build its own nuclear weapons, along with the missiles to deliver them anywhere in the world. In the US, successive presidents threatened to use force against Iran. But they did not solve the problem and, in some cases, made the situation much worse.

It’s difficult to grasp how dramatically everything has changed since Hamas crossed the border into Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas still exists and might rise again, but, for now, it is a shell of its former self. Hezbollah keeps finding and firing remnants of its old missile arsenal, but it has nothing like the stockpile it had just 2½ years ago. The new regime in Syria is wicked and dangerous, but it is not linked to Iran as the old Assad regime had been. The Houthis, the Shiite militias in Iraq, and other enemies of Israel still exist. But the Iranian regime that once fed and directed them has been shattered. 

Much of the world cheered the attacks of October 7. They thought it was the beginning of the end for Israel. Yet, the opposite happened. It reminds me of a line from James Weldon Johnson’s classic poem, “The Prodigal Son,” from his famous book, God’s Trombones. The preacher in the poem begins his sermon with some of the most profound words ever spoken: “Young man — Young man — Your arm’s too short to box with God.”

That’s a good word for people, young and old. And it applies to nations.

Isaiah 45:9 warns, “Woe to him who strives with his Maker!” Isaiah 14:27 says, “For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?” God made certain unconditional promises to Israel — not because they deserve it, but because He willed it. Nothing will prevent those promises from being fulfilled.

Trump Says Talks to Take Place Tuesday, Iran Says It Has 'No Plans' To Attend

Trump says talks to take place Tuesday, as Iran says it has ‘no plans’ to attend

Lazar Berman

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that talks with Iran on extending the ceasefire would resume on Tuesday, while the Islamic Republic indicated it was not planning to send a delegation and was pessimistic about the prospects of the talks.

Trump told Fox News that White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would be heading to the Pakistani capital Islamabad for the negotiations, and if Tehran does not agree to a deal, the whole of Iran would be “blown up.”

He told the outlet that bridges and power plants in Iran would be targeted, repeating his threat to target civilian infrastructure — plans that appeared to have been halted after the ceasefire was reached nearly two weeks ago. The break in the fighting is set to expire on Wednesday if an extension is not agreed upon.

Trump told Fox he is demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its highly enriched uranium, a demand Tehran has not agreed to.

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities, all while repeatedly threatening over the years to annihilate Israel.

Contrary to Trump’s claim, Iranian state media reported on Sunday night that Tehran was not planning to take part in new talks.

“There are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks,” state broadcaster IRIB said, citing Iranian sources.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian news outlet IRNA had pointed to Washington’s “maximalism and unreasonable and unrealistic demands, frequent changes of positions, constant contradictions, and the continuation of the so-called naval blockade,” adding that “in these circumstances, there is no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations.”

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies, quoting anonymous sources, said Tehran has yet to decide whether it will participate and that “the overall atmosphere cannot be assessed as very positive,” with Fars citing one source as saying the lifting of a US blockade on Iranian ports is a precondition for talks. The blockade was imposed in response to Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

After Sunday’s interview, Trump emphasized his threats on Truth Social, writing: “We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.”

“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” he wrote.

He said that the bridges and plants will “come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.”

“IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!” he concluded.

“The concept of the deal is done. I think we have a very good chance to get it completed,” Trump said.

However, according to the same report, Trump did not talk about an impending deal with Iran during a meeting with his top advisers on Saturday, which could be an indication that the US is gearing up for a return to fighting. The report added that Iran’s leadership seems suspicious that Trump’s upbeat talk of a deal could be intended to create cover for a surprise US attack on Iranian targets.

At the same time, an unnamed US official told the outlet that Trump is serious about reaching an agreement with Iran during talks this week in Pakistan.

If talks do collapse, Channel 12 reported, Israel has prepared a series of Iranian targets to hit. Though Trump threatened to strike Iranian infrastructure if a deal is not reached, Israel’s targets are not necessarily infrastructure sites.

As such, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the US-Israeli effort against Iran is “not over yet,” in an address alongside Argentinian President Javier Milei on Sunday.

“Any moment could bring us new developments,” said Netanyahu. “Who knows what tomorrow or the day after tomorrow will bring.”

Netanyahu said the US and Israel “shall achieve our objectives and achieve more hope, more light for the free peoples of the world.”

Huge 7.4 Quake Hits Japan:

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Off Japan's Coast, Evacuations Ordered As Tsunami Warning Issued

Renee Straker

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northeast coast on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings and evacuations in coastal areas.

The epicenter of the quake was about 62 miles east-northeast of Miyako, off the coast of Sanriku, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It happened around 4:53 p.m. local time (3:53 a.m. EDT), and tsunami warnings were issued for Iwate Prefecture, the central Pacific coastal area of Hokkaido Prefecture and the coastal area of Aomori Prefecture. There was a 5.6 aftershock less than an hour after the main quake.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged people in the warning zones to immediately evacuate and seek higher ground.

A tsunami of about 2.6 feet was detected at the Kuji port in the Iwate Prefecture, and a smaller tsunami of 1.3 feet was recorded at another port in the prefecture, Japan's meteorological agency said.

The agency urged residents in the region to immediately stay away from the coast or along rivers and take shelter on higher ground. It also cautioned people in the area against possible aftershocks for about a week.

On social media, there are reports that train service was suspended as earthquake alerts sounded. This post on X said the emergency brake was pulled and the train stopped inside a tunnel.

Pots and pans inside a ramen restaurant in Yamagata swayed and shook as the quake struck. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said officials are assessing the situation but so far no damage or injuries have been reported, including at power stations and other facilities.

Within hours of the quake officials issued an advisory for an increased risk of a possible "mega-quake." The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency said there is 1% chance for a mega-quake occurring on the northern Japanese coast in the next week or so.

Officials said the advisory is not a quake prediction but urged residents to raise their preparedness, such as emergency food and their grab bag just in case, while continuing their daily lives.

The advisory for the region is the second in recent months. One was issued following another major quake in December. No major subsequent quake occurred.

The Iwate Prefecture issued non-binding evacuation advisories to residents in 11 towns, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

The 7.6 magnitude quake on Dec. 8 happened just 85 miles away from Monday's quake, reports the USGS.

The agency also noted that Monday's earthquake occurred about 120 miles north of the 2011 deadly earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of northern Japan. The magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami on March 11, caused more than 22,000 deaths and forced nearly half a million people to flee their homes, most of them due to tsunami damage.

Some 160,000 people fled their homes in Fukushima because of the radiation spewed from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. About 26,000 of them haven’t returned because they resettled elsewhere, their hometowns remain off-limits or they have lingering concerns about radiation.

Japan earthquake live: Tsunami warning issued as huge 7.4 tremor hits coast

Tim Hanlon

A tsunami warning has been issued with mass evacuations underway after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the Japanese coast.

The tremor struck off the northeastern coast of the country this afternoon (April 20) and the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned a tsunami as high as three metres could hit in Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido.

It’s 15 years since a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, ravaged parts of northern Japan, caused more than 22,000 deaths and forced nearly half a million people to flee their homes, most of them due to tsunami damage.

People leave lower ground for parks on higher ground amid tsunami fear

Many people have been seen driving up to parks and other facilities on higher ground amid the evacuation orders.

In the town of Tomakomai in Hokkaido, a resident came to a hilltop park after picking up his child at a cram school and said he planned to stay until the alert is lifted.

Iwate and three other northern prefectures issued non-binding evacuation advisories to more than 128,000 residents, according to the disaster management agency.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, evacuation orders had been issued to 156,471 people in five prefectures: Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima.

Japan warns of slightly increased risk of mega-quake after a 7.7-magnitude one

An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 off northern Japan on Monday prompted a short-lived tsunami alert and the advisory of a higher risk of a possible mega-quake for coastal areas there.

The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency said there was a 1% chance for a mega-quake, compared to a 0.1% chance during normal times, in the next week or so following the powerful quake near the Chishima trough.

Officials said the advisory was not a quake prediction but urged residents to raise their preparedness while continuing their daily lives.

It was the second such advisory for the region in recent months. One was issued following a 7.5-magnitude quake in December but no mega-quake occurred.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said one person in Aomori, north of Iwate, was injured after falling Monday.

Where The Church Stands On Israel And Its Future Is Much More Than A Simple Theological Disagreement

Where The Church Stands On Israel And Its Future Is Much More Than A Simple Theological Disagreement

Jonathan Brentner

What we believe about Israel and its future is of utmost importance.

No church is neutral on the matter of Israel’s place in Bible prophecy. Many pastors say that such matters pertaining to the end times are of lesser significance than other more weighty matters of the faith. In my experience, however, they are the most aggressive in promoting the church as the new Israel and the least tolerant of those who disagree with them on this topic.

Even so, some might ask, “What’s the big deal?” It’s because the place a church assigns to the role of Israel in Bible prophecy is much more than just a matter of theology buried somewhere in a church’s doctrinal statement; it always impacts key areas of its ministry.

A few months ago, I wrote, “5 Troubling Trends in Today’s Church,” in which I detailed the abuses that flow from the kingdom mentality within churches who believe they represent the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

At the top of my list was elders who rule rather than serve the members of the body of Christ. I have witnessed firsthand the harm this causes and have heard many stories from several others who have comparable stories.

The problem with this kingdom mentality is that it so often results in a far different pattern of leadership from what the Lord prescribed in Mark 10:42-45 and Peter later wrote about in 1 Peter 5:1-5: “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (emphasis added)

Jesus’ pattern for church leadership is that of a servant, with those in charge acting as shepherds caring for the well-being of those in their charge. Sadly, the widespread problem of “domineering” elders is not exclusive to churches who regard themselves as the new Israel.

It Places Undue Emphasis on This Life

Another harmful result of denying Jesus’ millennial rule over a restored Israel is that it pushes the Lord’s return to a far distant end of the age event, which more often than not leads to an undue focus on this life. I have often heard this reflected in conversations with those who don’t regard the Lord’s return as an imminent event; they plan as if nothing can possibly interfere with their future aspirations.

This faulty emphasis on things pertaining to this life robs believers of the relief that comes from seeing the corruption and violence of our day as signs of Jesus’ imminent appearing rather than something they hope will somehow go away or get better. I can’t imagine reading the news of our day apart from the comfort I feel in knowing that at some point in the not-too-distant future, the Lord will dramatically intervene in human affairs after He takes me home to glory.

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