The June 17 “memorandum of understanding” between the United States and Iran expired yesterday, meaning that a ceasefire that was broken roughly 25 times is now officially over. President Donald Trump said yesterday that he does not plan to extend the agreement. But even if he changes his mind—again—it is apparent that Iran has no intention of holding its fire.

Media reports suggest Iran is gearing up for more active combat against the U.S. and Israel:

• A “senior Iranian official” told Reuters yesterday that Iran is preparing for a “fully offensive” posture. The official claimed that “Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region” to break the U.S. blockade of Iranian maritime trade.
• The Wall Street Journal reported on August 16 that Iranian and Arab officials say Iran’s leaders have been getting “their forces ready to widen the war and raise the costs for the U.S.,” while “increasingly talking about offensive operations on enemy territory.” The Journal implies this could include ground operations in Kuwait or other American partners in the region.
• Mohammad Hassan Sangtarash, an Iranian analyst close to the government, told the Journal, “There is also a widespread view in Iran that the main war has not yet begun.” He claimed that throughout the ceasefire, the Iranian regime has engaged in “limited, incremental escalation designed to weaken capabilities before a larger confrontation.”

What has Iran been doing? Over the past two months, Iran has rearranged military leadership positions to give the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps more control over the conventional military and the manufacture of missiles and drones.

• The Journal writes that Iran’s main goal “is to inflict enough pain to ensure the kind of attacks Iran has endured with the 12-day war last year and the continuing conflict aren’t repeated.”

In other words, Iran wants to push.

Daniel 11:40 prophesies that a power called “the king of the south” will trigger a global cataclysm “at the time of the end.” Since the 1990s, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has written that the radical Islamic world, led by Iran’s radical regime, is this “king.”

• Daniel 11:40 specifically says this bloc will “push” against its rivals. Iran is demonstrating this “pushiness” in its direct defiance, resistance and targeting of the U.S. superpower. Bible prophecy reveals it will spark a massive war—but not with America.

To learn who will confront Iran, read Mr. Flurry’s free booklet The King of the South.