play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Countdown to Conflict: Missiles Ready, Preemptive Strike Urged, Tensions Escalate

Background

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – In response to Trump’s bombing threats, Iran has put U.S. troops on alert, urged a preemptive strike on Diego Garcia, and readied underground ballistic missiles as tensions rise with the arrival of a U.S. carrier group and B-52 bombers in the region.

Iran warns that any strike would open a costly “Pandora’s box,” with all underground missile bases now launch-ready, according to the Tehran Times—a state-aligned English daily founded in 1979 as the “voice of the Islamic Revolution.”

Iranian armed forces are calling for a preemptive strike on the Diego Garcia base to deter a potential U.S. attack.

A senior Iranian official told The Telegraph: “Top commanders are being urged to launch preemptive strikes on the island and its base if Trump’s threats have become more serious.”

He added: “Discussions about the island have intensified since the Americans deployed bombers there.”

The Diego Garcia base hosts B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress bombers, making it a key hub for operations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It also houses around 4,000 military personnel and contractors, most of them American.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air force commander, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, threatened to target 50,000 American troops in the region, stating: “The Americans have at least 10 bases in the region, around Iran, with more than 50,000 troops – this means they are sitting in a glass house. Someone sitting in a glass house does not throw stones at others.”

The IRGC deputy commander also warned that “there is very great capability to harm the US at sea.”

Worthy News reported last week that the U.S. extended the USS Harry S. Truman’s Red Sea deployment, sent another carrier to the region, and deployed five B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia—signaling possible imminent strikes on Iran.

While aboard Air Force One, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that rejecting his nuclear deal could lead to “bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.” He told reporters, “We’ll see if we can get something done. And if not, it’s going to be a bad situation.” He added, “I would prefer a deal to the other alternative, which I think everybody in this plane knows what that is, and that’s never going to be pretty.”

Following the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to President Trump’s threats during a sermon on Monday, stating: “First, if any hostile act is committed from outside, though the likelihood is not high, it will undoubtedly be met with a strong counterstrike. Second, if the enemy, as in previous years, seeks to incite internal sedition, the nation will respond decisively to the instigators, just as it has in the past.”

Earlier in his sermon, he stated, “This criminal, wicked, and malevolent Zionist group must be eliminated from Palestine and the region, and by the grace and power of God, this will happen. Efforts in this regard are a religious, moral, and human duty for all of humanity.”

President Trump has repeatedly backed Israel against Iranian threats, warning in March 2025 that any attack would trigger a strong U.S. response. He stressed confronting Iran is key to Israel’s security and regional stability.

IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM PEACEFUL?

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran has ramped up production of uranium enriched to 60% — just below the 90% needed for weapons use. The agency warned that Iran now has enough of this material to make six nuclear bombs if further enriched, a process experts say could be done rapidly.

Despite Iran’s growing uranium stockpile, analysts say it still lacks the technology and expertise needed to assemble a functional nuclear warhead — a complex “weaponization” phase requiring advanced engineering and precision.

Critics of the Iranian regime have been warning for years of Iran’s intentions of developing nuclear weapons, despite Iranian claims publicly that it is only for peaceful purposes. However, the credibility of these denials is eroded by the persistent calls from Iranian leaders for the “Death of Israel,” referring to it as the “Little Satan” and advocating for the destruction of the United States, labeling it as the “Great Satan.” Such rhetoric casts doubt on their declarations of pursuing a peaceful nuclear program.

IRAN’S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS CONNECTED TO PROPHECY?

While the West often views Iran’s nuclear program through a secular lens, the spiritual aspect, which plays a central role in driving Iran’s nuclear ambitions, should not be overlooked. Iran is the only country where Twelver Shi’ism is the state religion.

Twelver Shīʿism, the largest branch of Shīʿa Islam, makes up about 85% of Shīʿas. “Twelver” signifies belief in twelve divinely appointed leaders, the Twelve Imams, with the last, Imam al-Mahdi, expected to return as the Mahdi. Twelvers see the Imams as Muhammad’s spiritual and political successors, guiding with justice and interpreting Islamic law and the Qur’an’s inner meanings. They are viewed as infallible (Ismah) and divinely chosen (nass).

The Twelvers believe that the Mahdi is expected to appear in times of extreme chaos, returning alongside Jesus as a messiah to bring peace and establish Islam globally.

Twelver beliefs, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and threats toward Israel and the West have raised concerns. Critics suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader might incite conflict to hasten the 12th Imam’s arrival. Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad has even called for the Imam’s return at the UN, asserting that the Islamic Revolution’s primary goal is to prepare for his reappearance.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Trump Signals ‘Wind-Down Of Iran War’ As Markets Tumble (Worthy News In-Depth)
Trump Signals ‘Wind-Down Of Iran War’ As Markets Tumble (Worthy News In-Depth)
Saturday, March 21, 2026

In a setback to those hoping for regime change in the Islamic Republic, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signaled Friday that he may begin “winding down” military operations against Iran, saying Washington is close to achieving its objectives.

US Vice President Vance To Visit Hungary Ahead Of Crucial Election; CPAC Gathers Global Conservative Figures
US Vice President Vance To Visit Hungary Ahead Of Crucial Election; CPAC Gathers Global Conservative Figures
Saturday, March 21, 2026

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Hungary in a last-minute show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces his toughest election since returning to power in 2010, officials familiar with the planning confirmed.

Anti-Immigration, Local Parties Surge In Dutch Municipal Elections
Anti-Immigration, Local Parties Surge In Dutch Municipal Elections
Friday, March 20, 2026

Anti-immigration and local parties made gains in municipal elections in the Netherlands, where concerns over rising migration from mainly Islamic countries, the financial impact of climate policies, and increased defense spending have dominated national and local debates.

Israel To Spare Energy Sites After Gas Strikes Trigger Market Shock; Iran Warns Of ‘Zero Restraint’
Israel To Spare Energy Sites After Gas Strikes Trigger Market Shock; Iran Warns Of ‘Zero Restraint’
Friday, March 20, 2026

Israel signaled Thursday it would refrain from further attacks on energy infrastructure after a strike on Iran’s vast South Pars natural gas field triggered retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, sending oil and natural gas prices sharply higher and raising fears of a wider regional escalation.

EU Leaders Rebuke Hungary’s Orbán Over Blocked 90 Billion Euro Ukraine Loan
EU Leaders Rebuke Hungary’s Orbán Over Blocked 90 Billion Euro Ukraine Loan
Friday, March 20, 2026

European Union leaders condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decision on Thursday to block a 90 billion euro ($98 billion) loan for Ukraine, linking his stance to a dispute with Kyiv over Russian oil supplies.

Concerns Grow For Christians In Iranian Prisons Amid Strikes
Concerns Grow For Christians In Iranian Prisons Amid Strikes
Friday, March 20, 2026

Families and friends of scores of Christians held in Iranian prisons have requested prayers as “concerns for their well-being grow and communication has all but ceased” amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, Christians told Worthy News Thursday.

Republicans Defend, Democrats Vilify GOP Voter ID Bill
Republicans Defend, Democrats Vilify GOP Voter ID Bill
Thursday, March 19, 2026

As a marathon debate over the SAVE America Act continues in the U.S. Senate, Republicans and Democrats are sparring over whether the voter ID bill would strengthen election security or discourage potential voters.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT