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Defense Department Says Iranian Confrontations With US Navy Up 50 Percent This Year

Dangerous confrontations between Iranian and American warships in the Persian Gulf are up more than 50 percent in 2016

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Dangerous confrontations between Iranian and American warships in the Persian Gulf are up more than 50 percent in 2016 compared with this time last year, according to a U.S. defense official – despite the highly touted nuclear accord, as well as a recent $1.7 billion U.S. payment to Tehran.

The latest incidents of provocative Iranian behavior flared in the Persian Gulf earlier this week, including one filmed by the U.S. Navy. The video showed four Iranian gunboats from its Revolutionary Guard Corps coming within 300 yards of USS Nitze, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

The incident was part of a troubling pattern, according to stats shared with Fox News.

In 2015, there were roughly 30 dangerous interactions between Iranian and U.S. Navy warships in the Persian Gulf, according to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. The Iranian vessels acted as the aggressors every time, the Navy says.

Iranian vessels harass US Navy destroyer in Strait of Hormuz:

Yet already this year, that number is at least 30. Through the first six months alone of 2016, there were 26 dangerous confrontations that U.S. military officials called “unsafe and unprofessional.”

“We are on pace to exceed last year’s numbers by more than fifty percent,” the defense official told Fox News, while saying the confrontations have risen by that much so far.

Overall encounters involving Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps fleet of largely fast-boats also have increased significantly, corresponding to the spike in dangerous interactions.

In the incident captured on video – one of four such incidents this week – the U.S. destroyer fired flares, increased speed and took evasive maneuvers, while the Iranian ships ignored calls on the radio to stop. Cmdr. William Urban, a spokesman for the Navy’s 5th Fleet, called the actions “unsafe and unprofessional.”

The next day in a separate incident in the northern Persian Gulf, the USS Squall, a coastal patrol ship, fired three warning shots from its .50 caliber machine gun when one Iranian ship came within 200 yards.

This comes after Iranian gunboats from the IRGC in January seized 10 U.S. Navy sailors after their two patrol craft drifted into Iranian waters near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. They were released the following day.

U.S.: Navy fired warning shots at Iranian boat

In December, Iranian missile boats fired a burst of unguided rockets near a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy called the act “highly provocative” at the time.

Together, the incidents have stoked concerns that little has changed with Iran despite the nuclear accord.

“Iran’s behavior hasn’t significantly changed as a result of the nuclear agreement,” Gen. Joseph Votel told Fox News in Baghdad last month, while Fox News was traveling with the general responsible for American forces in the region.

During a visit to USS New Orleans, a Navy amphibious transport ship going through the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian missile ship and three other fast-boats shadowed the U.S. warship with Votel and four reporters aboard, including Fox News.

“What concerns me is our people don’t always have a lot of time to deal with those interactions,” Votel said. “It’s measured in minutes to really have the opportunity to make the right decision.”

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal first reported that the U.S. paid Iran $400 million in January, as four Americans were being released from the country. The administration denied the money was ransom but conceded it was used as leverage to secure the release. Technically, the money was part of a $1.7 billion payment, apparently to resolve a longstanding financial dispute.

In July, two days before the one-year anniversary of the nuclear agreement, Iran also attempted to launch another ballistic missile in violation of a United Nations resolution.  The launch, first reported by Fox News, failed after the missile exploded shortly after take-off according to U.S. defense officials. The missile was based on a North Korean BM-25 Musudan missile, which has a maximum range of nearly 2,500 miles, putting U.S. forces in the Middle East and Israel within reach, officials tell Fox News.

This week, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said his warships would continue to confront any U.S. Navy ship near Iran’s territorial waters.

“If an American ship enters Iran’s maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them,” he said according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.

Asked to respond to Dehghan’s comments at a press briefing Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said, “[W]e certainly hope it doesn’t continue, because it serves no purpose other than to raise tensions in an important part of the world; and tensions that we don’t seek to have escalated.”

Iran’s defense minister is a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander who plotted the 1983 the U.S. Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. military personnel.

Earlier this week, the State Department put out a new travel warning to American citizens warning them about “the risk of arrest and detention of U.S. citizens” by Iran. source

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As Iran Tensions Explode, USS Tripoli Strike Group With A Full Marine Expeditionary Unit Arriving To Reinforce 50,000 U.S. Troops Already Deployed In Region

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March 24, 2026

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Strait Of Hormuz Becomes Flashpoint As USS Tripoli And Combat Marines Enter Region Backed By Tens Of Thousands Of U.S. Forces

The USS Tripoli is not a symbol. It is not a diplomatic gesture. It is a fully operational, forward-deployed invasion platform. A Marine Expeditionary Unit is specifically designed for one thing: to hit fast, hit hard, and establish a foothold before the enemy can react. On Friday it will arrive to reopen the Strait of Hormuz replete with 2,200 US Marines who will be joining the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit of 2,500 Marines that’s due to arrive mid-April. And you think this war is winding down? Guess again.

“Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.” Joshua 11:18 (KJB)

The Strait of Hormuz is the economic jugular vein of the planet, where a massive portion of the world’s oil supply flows every single day. Whoever controls that chokepoint holds leverage over global markets, economies, and stability itself. Right now, Iran has their fingers on the controls, something that President Donald Trump would love dearly to see come to a sooner rather than later end. The USS Tripoli is not just a ship, it is a floating strike platform, a fully armed and operational war machine positioned at sea. On board are F-35B stealth fighter jets, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, attack and transport helicopters, and ground combat Marines trained and ready for amphibious assault. This is not a slow, piecemeal military buildup taking shape over time; this is a complete, self-contained invasion force, already assembled and capable of launching operations the very moment the order is given. And it doesn’t stand alone. Moving with it is the USS New Orleans, an amphibious transport dock, carrying roughly 2,200 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Together, this is Day One war capability — not theoretical, not preparatory, but active and deployed. Everything needed for immediate combat operations is already in place, already in position, and ready to be unleashed.

Please pray for our amazing US Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen as they get ready to, hopefully, take control of the Strait of Hormuz and bring this war to an end. Semper Fi.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

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But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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Did Trump’s 2025 Saudi Visit Lay The Groundwork For Iran War? Mohammed Bin Salman Sees Iran Conflict As An ‘Historic Opportunity’ To Remake Middle East

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March 24, 2026

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Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a ‘historic opportunity’ to remake the region through Donald Trump’s war with Iran, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.

The latest reporting paints a striking picture: Mohammed bin Salman privately urging Donald Trump to continue a war with Iran, describing the conflict not as a crisis to contain, but as a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East. That phrase alone should give pause. History is filled with leaders who believed they stood at the threshold of reshaping the region, but few did so without unleashing major consequences far beyond their control. Do you remember Trump’s May of 2025 magnum opus meeting they called ‘MAGA In The Desert’? Let me remind you.

“Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.” 2 Chronicles 9:14 (KJB)

What we are witnessing right now in the Middle East did not begin with missiles flying over Tehran or oil tankers sitting idle in the Strait of Hormuz. This moment was set in motion long before the first shot was fired, when Donald Trump stepped onto Saudi soil and locked in one of the largest economic and military partnerships in modern history. That visit was billed as dealmaking, and yes, the numbers were staggering, with agreements ranging from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion in investments, defense systems, and strategic cooperation, but the real story was not the money. The real story was the alignment. That Saudi trip cemented a powerful alliance between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, tying the United States and Saudi Arabia together through weapons deals, economic dependency, and shared regional objectives. Massive defense agreements, including advanced aircraft and hundreds of tanks, were not merely symbolic gestures, they were the building blocks of a military capability and deterrence alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Fast forward to today, and the region is engulfed in war. The United States and its allies are engaged in a full-scale conflict with Iran, striking thousands of targets while Tehran retaliates across the region, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and threatening to choke off the world’s oil supply. The war has already escalated into a multi-front confrontation involving Israel, proxy militias, and global powers scrambling to prevent total collapse of stability in the Middle East. This is no limited engagement—this is the kind of conflict that reshapes maps. And now comes the revelation that pulls the curtain back just a little further. According to reports based on briefings from U.S. officials, Mohammed bin Salman is urging Trump to stay the course, viewing the war with Iran as a “historic opportunity” to reshape the region in Saudi Arabia’s favor. That statement, if true, should stop you cold. Because it connects the dots between what was built in Saudi Arabia last year and what is unfolding right now on the battlefield. Are we fighting this war for Israel, for Mohammed bin Salman, for who then?

This is where the question becomes unavoidable. Did Trump’s Saudi visit lay the groundwork for what we are now seeing? No one is going to come out and say that openly, and Saudi officials publicly deny pushing for escalation. But the sequence of events speaks loudly. First came the alliance. Then came the investment. Then came the weapons. And now comes the war. So no, this is not just about contracts signed in Riyadh, and it is not just about bombs falling on Iran. This is about timing. It is about alliances forged in peace being leveraged in war. And it is about a Middle East that is rapidly being reshaped before our eyes, exactly as Scripture said it would be.

Saudi Prince Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES: Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East, according to people briefed by American officials on the conversations.

In a series of conversations over the last week, Prince Mohammed has conveyed to Mr. Trump that he must press toward the destruction of Iran’s hard-line government, the people familiar with the conversations said. Prince Mohammed, the people familiar with the discussions said, has argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel also views Iran as a long-term threat, but analysts say Israeli officials would probably view a failed Iranian state that is too caught up in internal turmoil to menace Israel as a win, while Saudi Arabia views a failed state in Iran as a grave and direct security threat. But senior officials in both the Saudi and American governments worry that if the conflict drags on, Iran could deliver ever more punishing attacks on Saudi oil installations and the United States could be stuck in an endless war.

Prince Mohammed, an authoritarian royal who has led a sustained crackdown on dissent, is respected by Mr. Trump and has previously influenced the president’s decision-making. Prince Mohammed has argued that the United States should consider putting troops in Iran to seize energy infrastructure and force the government out of power, according to the people briefed by U.S. officials.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the administration “does not comment on the president’s private conversations.” READ MORE

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

nteb-free-king-james-bible-program-750-550

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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Donald Trump

THE PROPHECY NEWS PODCAST: President Trump May Be Looking For The Exit Ramp As He Cancels His Own 48-Hour Deadline For Iran To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz

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2 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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TACO Trump Always Chickens Out? Iran Ultimatum Deadline Comes And Goes With No Action As Strait Of Hormuz Crisis Continues In Iran

For days now, the rhetoric coming out of Washington had all the markings of escalation. President Donald Trump issued a hard 48-hour ultimatum to Iran: reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating U.S. strikes on critical infrastructure. The language was not vague. It was direct, forceful, and absolute. And now? That deadline has come and gone and has quietly turned into a 5-day deadline with the White House desperately trying to sell it as a win which it absolutely is not. It is hesitation, uncertainty, and sadly, weakness. TACO Trump is back with a vengeance.

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (KJB)

On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, instead of action, Trump extended the timeline, paused military strikes, and began talking about “productive conversations.” That’s not follow-through—that’s a pivot. And not a subtle one. Let’s say it plainly: this is exactly why critics have begun branding him “TACO Trump” — Trump Always Chickens Out. On multiple podcasts, I have already stated clearly that this war was not going in Trump’s favor. The early signs were there for anyone willing to look—Iran was not backing down, regional tensions were spreading, global economic pressure was mounting, and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical chokepoints on earth, remained under constant threat. I said then that Trump looked like he was in over his head, and what we’re seeing now only reinforces that assessment. This is not a controlled situation. This is not a clean show of strength. This is a leader who issued a red line and is now stepping away from it under pressure. You can be absolutely certain of this: Tehran is not interpreting this as diplomacy. They are interpreting it as hesitation. In the Middle East, hesitation is not neutral—it is weakness. When the United States threatens “obliteration” and then delays action, adversaries recalibrate. They test further. They push harder. And that increases the chances of a much larger conflict down the road. The news is changing by the minute, and we bring it all to you today!

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But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

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“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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