Only days after a historic deal between Iran and the P5+1 nations, Iran has shown it has no intention of rejoining the international community as a “moderate” Islamic nation. If you listen closely over the sound of thunderous applause and gushing remarks in Geneva, you can still hear the sound of Iran beating the nuclear weapons drum.

On November 26, Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, lieutenant commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (ircg), announced that Iran has developed “indigenous” ballistic missile technology.

Ballistic missiles created at home rather than abroad—capable of dropping nuclear payloads—can only be found in Russia and the United States. Other nations have to purchase the weapons in order to obtain them. If what Iran now claims is true, it has joined an exclusive club and has taken another deadly step toward being a self-sustaining nuclear weapons producer.

Of course, Iranian boasts should be taken with a few grains of salt. Iran has a history of faking technological achievements. Consider the stealth fighter jet made of plastic and missing basic components such as rivets; and monkeys being launched into space.

Regardless of whether or not the stories prove true, the announcement serves as a reminder of Iran’s intentions.

Hearken back to October 1, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations. He put forward some compelling questions worth contemplating. “Why would a country that claims to only want peaceful nuclear energy … build hidden underground enrichment facilities? Why would a country with vast natural energy reserves invest billions in developing nuclear energy? Why would a country intent on merely civilian nuclear programs continue to defy multiple Security Council resolutions and incur the tremendous cost of crippling sanctions on its economy? And why would a country with a peaceful nuclear program develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, whose sole purpose is to deliver nuclear warheads?” (emphasis added).

Why indeed? After all, didn’t Iran just sign a historic nuclear deal with the West? Doesn’t Rouhani want to bring Iran back into the international community?

The truth is that the “moderate” image is a ruse. As editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in the December 2013 Trumpet print edition, “The facts are clear, and the truth is obvious. The Iranians have lied in the past, and they continue to lie. Yet, incredibly, Western leaders and many of our people simply believe the lies.”

The West believes lies about Iran’s quest for nuclear-weapons-enforced dominance over the entire region.

People can celebrate the negotiations in Geneva all they want, but when the ircg talks about obtaining weapons to carry a nuclear payload, we had better sit up and pay attention!

In a region described as a “nuclear tinderbox,” the thought of Iran—the number one state sponsor of terror—obtaining devastating weapons of mass destruction, should cause people around the globe to react. People need to see the horrendous fulfillment of Bible prophecy coming to pass—and also the hope beyond that time.

As Gerald Flurry wrote in that recent article:

Open your eyes, and you know the world around you is falling apart. Time is short. However, there is still time for individuals to escape the coming nuclear destruction, when, as Amos says, there will only be “pieces” of the nations of Israel left.Also, understand that there is incredible hopebeyond the coming horrors of nuclear darkness. Don’t lose sight of the vision at the end of Amos. If you can grasp that vision, if you can avoid the distractions of our world and see beyond the terrible times to come. Then you can be sure to one day participate in the awesome world God has in store.

For more understanding of Iran’s increasing belligerence in the Middle East, request and read our free booklet The King of the South.