Iraq and Iran to Sign Major Energy Deals

Last week, we reported on new cooperation between Iraq and Iran in the military sector. This week, the collaboration extends to the energy sector. In order to help solve the energy crisis in Iraq, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari is going to sign energy agreements with the Iranian government.

There are three parts to this agreement: 1) a 40-kilometer oil pipeline between the Iraqi oil center of Basra and Iran’s Abadan port; 2) using Iran’s Caspian ports to import refined fuels into Iraq from central Asia; and 3) linking the electricity grid of the two countries.

This is a major development in the region. For starters, Iraq is looking to its “Iranian brothers,” in the words of the Iraqi defense minister, to solve its problems, not the U.S. That is both a slap in the face to the U.S. and a provocative partnership for Iraq. Aside from the fact that war between Iran and Iraq is still in recent memory for many in both countries, Iran is still the world’s top terrorism-sponsoring nation. Yet, Iraq is willing to turn to Iran for help that will make it dependant on Iran.

Plus, Bible prophecy tells us that a major alliance is forming in that region called “the king of the south” (Daniel 11:40).

These events are the beginning of that alliance and the first steps toward what the Trumpet has predicted for years: that Iran will probably take over Iraq. Given the events of this last month, expect this Islamic alliance to coalesce much more rapidly.