In a rapidly escalating Middle East landscape, Iran and Egypt have emerged as key proponents of a NATO-style military alliance among Islamic nations.
According to Newsweek, this development comes as leaders convene in Doha, Qatar, on September 15, 2025, for an emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Triggered by recent Israeli strikes, including a controversial attack on a residential compound in Doha housing Hamas negotiators, the summit aims to forge a unified response to regional threats.
Proponents argue that such an alliance could provide collective security against external aggressions, potentially reshaping the geopolitical balance in the region.
Yet, this move also invites speculation about its alignment with ancient biblical prophecies, particularly the war of Gog and Magog described in the Book of Ezekiel, where Iran (ancient Persia) plays a pivotal role in leading a coalition against Israel.
The call for an “Islamic NATO” is not entirely new but has gained unprecedented momentum in 2025 amid heightened tensions.
Egypt, boasting the Arab world’s largest standing army, has revived a proposal first floated in 2015 for a joint Arab security force modeled after NATO’s collective defense mechanism.
This would involve a Cairo-based unified military command, enabling rapid deployment of forces from member states in response to attacks. The initiative has been accelerated by Israel’s recent strike on Qatar, which many view as a direct challenge to Arab and Islamic sovereignty.
Iran, traditionally at odds with some Arab states due to sectarian divides and geopolitical rivalries, has aligned with Egypt on this front. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the OIC summit, emphasizing the need for a broader coalition that includes non-Arab powers like Turkey, Pakistan, and Iraq.
Former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei has publicly warned that without such unity, Israel could target other nations next, advocating for a shared military doctrine and resources.
This marks a significant diplomatic shift, as Iran seeks to position itself as a leader within the OIC—a bloc of 57 Muslim-majority countries historically dominated by Arab influences.
The emergency summit in Doha, hosted by Qatar’s leadership, focuses on formulating concrete measures against Israeli actions in Gaza and beyond.
Discussions include potential economic boycotts, diplomatic isolations, and the establishment of a joint task force to monitor and counter threats.
Pakistan has echoed support for this, proposing a monitoring group to track Israeli military activities. While Iranian diplomats caution that formalizing the pact is premature, the summit’s outcomes could lead to initial agreements on intelligence sharing and joint exercises.
Broader implications are profound. Experts suggest this alliance could challenge U.S. dominance in the region, especially as Washington’s response to the Doha strike has been criticized as tepid.
Beyond geopolitics, this emerging alliance has sparked discussions among biblical scholars and eschatologists about its potential fulfillment of prophecies in the Hebrew Bible, specifically Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.
These passages describe a future apocalyptic war led by “Gog of the land of Magog,” often interpreted in modern Christian and Jewish theology as a northern power (commonly associated with Russia) allying with Persia (modern-day Iran) and other nations to invade Israel.
In Ezekiel 38:5-6, Persia is explicitly named as part of the coalition, alongside Cush (Ethiopia/Sudan), Put (Libya), and others from the “far north.”
Iran, as Persia’s successor, is seen by many interpreters as the prophesied leader or key instigator in this end-times conflict. The formation of an Islamic military bloc, with Iran at the forefront, could mirror this alliance, uniting Muslim-majority states against a common foe—potentially Israel.
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