Amid widespread reports that Iran’s Guardian Council, which serves as the country’s electoral watchdog, has disqualified thousands of candidates for a crucial parliamentary election set for Friday, the Trump administration has announced sanctions against five Iranian officials charged with preventing “free and fair” elections.
The US, Israel, and other countries believe conservative hard-liners are attempting to ensure a sweep, over and against reformers and ‘moderates’. The State Department previously called the nationwide elections a sham, and reiterated this during a Thursday press conference unveiling the newest sanctions.
“Tomorrow, the Iranian regime will stage an event euphemistically called elections,” US special envoy for Iran Brian Hook said. “Unfortunately for the Iranian people, the real election took place in secret long before any ballots were even cast.”
The US has previously slammed the Iranian system of allowing a 12-member Guardian Council to vet and “approve” of candidates getting on the ballot as “rigged”.
Special Rep. Hook: The Iranian regime is holding what it calls “elections” on February 21. But the clerics pick the winners & losers before the ballots are even cast. We call on the Iranian regime to give the Iranian people a real choice & let their voice be heard. #IranElections pic.twitter.com/BTyvuXhx21
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 14, 2020
“Together, these five officials oversee a process that silences the voice of the Iranian people, curtails their freedom and limits their political participation,” Hook continued.
He added that the council members “are the ones who really get to vote in Iran.”
The State Department has said this translates to over 7,000 candidates being denied a place in Friday’s parliamentary elections.
Iranian officials more or less admitted to the “purge” earlier in the week, after weeks of campaigning, per the AFP:
Iran’s electoral watchdog on Wednesday defended its decision to disqualify thousands of candidates for a crucial parliamentary election in two days, as a lackluster campaign neared its end.
Conservatives are expected to make an overwhelming resurgence in Friday’s vote, which comes after months of steeply escalating tensions between Iran and its decades-old arch foe the United States.
Their gains would be made at the expense of those who back President Hassan Rouhani, a relatively moderate conservative who was re-elected in 2017 promising people more freedoms and the benefits of engagement with the West.
Those named in Thursday’s sanctions include secretary of the Guardian Council Ahmad Jannati, as well as former head of Iran’s judiciary Mohammad Yazdi, and council members Siamak Rahpeyk, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei and Mohammad Hasan Sadeghi Moghadam. According to The Guardian, the more moderate faction represented in President Hassan Rouhani could be greatly limited in attempts to hold back hardline voices if conservatives overtake parliament.
“If the conservatives can take power, and appoint someone such as the former Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as speaker, Rouhani can be kept on a tight leash in his final year of office before fresh presidential elections,” according to the report.
via zerohedge
This is a fine example of what the demonrats want for America.
This is what the dummy-crats are defending each time they riot about Trump “hating” radical islam.
For some reason they don’t see the effects of insane theological dictatorship as bad.
Normal independent people would hate it; but I guess the dependent dummies in America would like it, since they need a parental government to exist . . .
It shows the error in the demonrat thinking; that the radical imams are infallible, when actually they are just as crooked as any high-ranking socialist, dictator, or tyrant.
“Do as I say, not as I do.”
Our sermon this morning at Seneca Creek Church was on how God makes people special and a case in point is Judge Jeanine Pirro with her PRETTY BIG LIPS, LIPSTICK, SMILE and EARRINGS which made her popular. If my wife would look as good as Jeanine Pirro, that would make me feel better at home with my wife. When satan tries to make her jealous to ruin our relationship, I use the Power of Christ to tell satan that “MY WIFE IS JUST AS GOOD AS JEANINE PIRRO SPIRITUALLY AND EVENTUALLY WILL BE AS GOOD PHYSICALLY” and satan will get lost. Jesus told satan to “hit the road” when Jesus was on this earth and that means that Jesus has good discipline and our world needs to look up to that standard. Eventually my wife and the other ladies in my family will compete with PRETTY SWEETHEART JEANINE PIRRO. This is the Good News Gospel of Christ and Pirro today!
BREXIT FINALLY HAPPENED!
03rd March 2020
By Journalist and Pastor of King Of The Nations Church in Rockville, Maryland
Three and a half years after Britain announced plans to exit the European Union, Brexit finally happened, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson fulfilled his campaign pledge (NY magazine, January 31, 2020). The United Kingdom is no longer a voting member of the EU, but is still required to abide by European laws through the 11-month transition period.
Now the UK and the EU governments have to transact major agreements, while the British government simultaneously works on independent trade deals with other nations. Some are optimistic, while others believe there is insufficient time to complete meaningful negotiations (BBC, February 3, 2020). The EU appears to be insistent that the UK remain committed to European rules and regulations, while Johnson is clear that he wants Britain to work with the EU without being tethered to European regulations (Politico, February 4, 2020). Several potential flash points in the negotiations include fisheries, rules and regulations, the future of Gibraltar, as well as who will have the final say in decisions regarding the UK and Europe.
For millennia, Bible prophecies have warned that former allies of Israelite-descended nations (like Britain) will turn against them at the end of the age (Jeremiah 4:30), and these nations will go into some form of captivity under a German-led European “beast” power—a punishment from God for turning away from Him and despising His laws (Deuteronomy 28:15, 41; Ezekiel 23:9–10). Aggressive Brexit negotiations could accelerate this process of separating allies. To learn more about the future relations between the UK and Europe, watch on YouTube “Brexit Update: What Is Next for Britain?”
WORLD MARKETS FALLING
From King Of The Nations Church Pastor Gregg Zetts who is our Good Journalist and Bookstore Director at our Church in Rockville, Maryland
Posted on 13th March 2020
I enjoy reading the news reports and that my wife enjoys cooking and this is hormones epitomized in the traditional sense but have to say that trade and travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus are negatively impacting global financial markets (Reuters, March 8, 2020) and our people need the power of God to clean and sanitize the air in our world. The news reports are telling us that stock markets around the world, including in the United States, have been spiraling down for the past several weeks as fear of the virus spreads caused by satan and his demons. And now, as oil prices drop, markets continue to be affected along with our automobiles, sports equipment, schools, camps, stores and banks in our jurisdictions and abroad.
Russia and OPEC nations led by Saudi Arabia continue to go to war financially with each other in the oil arena. Russia and OPEC nations were working together on global oil output (CNBC.com, March 9, 2020). However, with global economies stagnating due to the coronavirus outbreak, these countries need more revenue. In response to Russia’s refusal to lower oil output, not only has Saudi Arabia lowered oil prices but the Middle Eastern kingdom is also reportedly considering an increase in oil production—pushing oil prices even lower. Economists predict that a price war over oil may negatively impact U.S. oil revenue—and, together with other effects of the coronavirus outbreak, may trigger a global recession and the Bible talks about Armageddon, Great Tribulation and World War Three(Final Armageddon) before the Lord’s return to do His inventory of the earth.
It is difficult to know how low world economies will tumble and for how long they will remain suppressed. But, as national economies decline, there could come a time when nations will begin to look for an economic savior but, which “savior” will you look to for help? You want to study the Bible for the TRUE SAVIOR as the Bible prophecy indicates that a future European “beast” power will develop a powerful economic engine by which nations of the earth will be made rich (Revelation 17–18). For more insights into Europe’s future role, be sure to read “Growth of a Strongman: Germany Rising Again” inside our church bookstore to soon learn more!