The U.S.-Israel-Iran Conflict and Bible Prophecy

UPDATED: March 6, 2026, 1:35 PM (Central Time)  

On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched a series of attacks on Iranian government and military sites, including the capital, Tehran. These attacks,  which began the joint operations, destroyed government buildings, sank warships and killed a number of key leaders of the Iranian regime, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s supreme leader.

Frustrated by Iran’s refusal to back down, U.S. President Donald Trump deployed military forces, including two carrier strike groups, into the region in an effort to pressure Khamenei to negotiate.

Realizing Iran had basically dug in its heels to diplomatic efforts, President Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to proceed with military force.

Creating more unrest in the Middle East

These recent strikes come in the aftermath of the 2025 12-Day War, which began on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. That attack targeted key sites across the country and destroyed significant portions of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and killed several senior scientists and military leaders. The United States became involved on June 22, when it bombed three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, completely destroying one of them. 

With the attacks that began on Feb. 28, 2026,  the situation has escalated even further.

As Iran has been hit again—and even harder—a major question now is whether Iran’s weakened position will lead to a shift in the balance of power in the Middle East. Furthermore, is the international community now beginning to view Israel and the United States more as aggressors than victors?

Both of these outcomes may play into Bible prophecy.

Iran and the Muslim influence in the Middle East

To gain a better understanding of these recent events, it’s essential to have some background knowledge of the Muslim people.

Some 4,000 years ago, God promised Abram (whose name God later changed to Abraham) a son by his wife (Genesis 15:1-4; 17:5; 18:10). But before that son was born, Abram had a son, named Ishmael, through his wife’s maidservant. Animosity began to develop between the two children not long after Isaac, the promised son, was born.

Ishmael ultimately left, and his descendants are among the Arab peoples today.

Since Iran has the fourth-largest oil reserves and the second-largest natural gas reserves in the world, its influence in the Middle East cannot be ignored. Years later, Isaac’s son Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, married a daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 28:9). Their descendants also live in the Middle East. The Jews are among the descendants of Jacob, and since the birthright promises went through Isaac and Jacob instead of Ishmael and Esau, the animosity between these descendants also continues to this day.

Around the late sixth century, a man named Muhammad formed a religion known as Islam, which served to unify the Arab peoples, as well as others who surrounded them, including the Persians. These people became known as Muslims.

After Muhammad’s death, a division occurred over who would be considered his rightful successor. This created two distinct groups of Muslims—the Sunnis and the Shias. Over 90 percent of the world’s Muslims are Sunni, so it is not surprising that conflicts have arisen between these two sects. (For a more detailed explanation of the Sunni-Shia divide, read pages 45-47 of our booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.)

This becomes significant when we consider that the nation of Iran is mostly Shia and is governed by a Shia theocracy. Iran is also largely composed of Persians, not Arabs. These two factors explain the historic divisions and lack of friendship between Iran and Sunni-led Muslim nations.

Since Iran has the fourth-largest oil reserves and the second-largest natural gas reserves in the world, its influence in the Middle East cannot be ignored.

Even though Iranians are among the minority in the Muslim world, their natural resources have allowed them to maintain their influence.

How Iran has maintained its power

Oil is the lifeblood of Iran’s economy. 

Through the sale of oil and natural gas, Iran has not only built the third-largest military force in the Middle East, but also financed proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. In the past, these groups have advanced Iran’s regional influence, challenging not only Israel but also Sunni-led governments across the Muslim world.

Iran has invested heavily in the development of its missile program and possesses one of the region’s largest and most diverse ballistic missile arsenals. This has served both as a deterrent against foreign intervention and as a means of projecting power across the region.

Over the years, various countries have imposed sanctions and trade restrictions on Iran in an effort to curb its nuclear ambitions. In 2015, Iran and several world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which eased many of these sanctions in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear activities and allowing inspections. 

However, in 2018, the United States withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions, because its leaders believed Iran was secretly continuing efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.

In early June 2025 the Board of Governors of the global nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formally declared Iran in breach of its nonproliferation obligations, raising serious global concerns about its nuclear intentions.

Israeli intelligence has continued to see evidence of progress toward nuclear weapons in Iran. Concerns that Iran was close to having the ability to complete several nuclear bombs and posed an imminent threat prompted Israel’s 2025 attack, which significantly degraded Tehran’s nuclear and missile capacities.

Then, the United States added an exclamation point when it dropped its bombs.

At that time, Prime Minister Netanyahu said President Trump’s “bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history.”

But how will that history be changed?

Concerning the recent attack, President Trump said, “To the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand . . . When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take . . . Now is the time to seize control of your destiny.”

What is Iran’s destiny?

A power shift ahead?

Although Egypt and other Sunni-majority nations have expressed disapproval of both the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, they have stopped short of outright condemnation. Their primary concern is preserving the regional stability that, despite tensions, has largely been maintained over the past several decades.

Egypt now finds itself in a delicate position. While it may not fully support Israel’s actions, it maintains a longstanding peace treaty with Israel, signed in 1979, that provides it with U.S. military and economic aid. 

At the same time, Egypt must tread carefully in its approach to Iran. Although diplomatic relations were severed in 1980 following Egypt’s peace with Israel and Iran’s Islamic Revolution, more recent regional dynamics have reopened limited channels of engagement between the two.

Just weeks before these recent attacks, Egypt and other Sunni Arab states were not in favor of any military interventions because of the ramifications that could follow.

They believed that military strikes would lead to Iran retaliating by launching missiles at the Arab states around them—which has happened.

But, in the long run, Iran’s diminished influence and power in the region will likely strengthen Egypt’s position among other Sunni-dominant countries. They believed that Iran would disrupt the economies of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf by hindering oil and natural gas traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—which has happened.

And they believed that a sudden demise of the Iranian regime would create a vacuum that would create only more instability in the Middle East—something that is already happening.

Egypt is particularly concerned about regional instability. During past conflicts, Israel has temporarily suspended natural gas exports to Egypt for security reasons. At the same time, heightened tensions can discourage short-term foreign investment.

Foreign investors play an important role in Egypt’s economy, largely buying short-term Egyptian government debt. Their investments provide needed cash flow and support currency reserves. However, because this capital is short-term and yield-seeking, it can leave quickly during periods of instability, increasing economic pressure.

When economic uncertainty arises in the Middle East, outside investors become worried and stop purchasing these notes. This can have a dramatic impact on Egypt’s economy. The lack of sufficient cash flow to meet interest payments leads to rapid inflation—and has happened to Egypt before.

All of this puts Egypt in a precarious position. 

The future rise of the Sunni nations

But, in the long run, Iran’s diminished influence and power in the region will likely strengthen Egypt’s position among other Sunni-dominant countries. As the balance of power in the Middle East shifts, the Sunni Muslim nations will ultimately benefit from the consequences of the current conflict.

But, in the long run, Iran’s diminished influence and power in the region will likely strengthen Egypt’s position among other Sunni-dominant countries. Bible prophecy indicates that the Sunni nations, not the Shia, will likely be the dominant force in the years to come.

Daniel 11 describes a future power it calls the king of the South that will fight the king of the North. (North and south in this context are generally in relation to Jerusalem.) These prophecies have both a historical and end-time fulfillment. (For a detailed explanation of Daniel 11, read our article “Daniel 11: The Most Detailed Prophecy in the Bible.”)

The end-time fulfillment will occur just before the return of Jesus Christ. Today, Egypt is one of the most prominent nations south of Jerusalem and has significant military strength. With Iran’s regional influence now visibly weakened, we may witness Sunni nations, particularly Egypt, asserting greater influence in the Middle East in the near future.

Egypt will likely not wield this power alone, but will likely lead a group of nations that could include Saudi Arabia and other North African and Middle Eastern countries. 

Just before the return of Christ, these nations will form a confederacy to fight against Israel (Psalm 83:4-5).

Israel is now being seen as an aggressor

Even though Israel is saying that its current actions are only to defend itself, not everyone sees Israel’s recent actions as honorable. We should watch closely Israel’s relationship with its neighbors, particularly those to the south. 

When Hamas, funded by Iran, carried out its brutal attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping over 250 others, much of the international community initially viewed Israel’s retaliation as justified.

However, as the conflict dragged on, with estimates of over 70,000 Palestinians killed, global sentiment shifted. Israel is now portrayed as an aggressor. Its most recent strikes on Iran have further fueled accusations that Israel is abandoning efforts for peace and instead perpetuating violence.

According to Bible prophecy, anti-Semitism (hostility against the Jewish people) is prophesied to intensify in the last days. According to Ezekiel 35:5-6, this “ancient hatred,” rooted in the enmity between Ishmael and Isaac, will culminate in a confederacy of Arab nations seeking the destruction of Israel.

What will happen next?

Israel is surrounded by hostile neighbors. Although it’s sometimes ranked only as the fourth most powerful military in the Middle East, its strategic advantage lies in its close relationship with the United States, which provides it access to advanced weaponry far superior to that of Iran and other Muslim nations.

Despite Iran’s threats against both Israel and the United States, recent events have highlighted the limitations of Iran’s conventional military capabilities when faced with the technological superiority of Israel and the U.S. 

Despite Iran’s threats against both Israel and the United States, recent events have highlighted the limitations of Iran’s conventional military capabilities. Since its founding as a nation in 1948, Israel has avoided military defeat largely thanks to U.S. support. But just as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, these recent events will affect the Middle East and “change history.”

Prophecy reveals that another superpower—referred to as the “king of the North”—will rise in Europe. 

According to Daniel 11:40-43, when Muslim nations unify into the “king of the South,” they will “attack” this European power, provoking a fierce response. Europe will retaliate with overwhelming force, crushing the “king of the South.” 

Israel will be caught in the cross fire. As prophesied in Zechariah 14:1-2, half the city will be taken into captivity, and the state of Israel will fall.

Yet this tragic sequence of events is not the end. Shortly afterward, Jesus Christ will return—not only to deliver the Jewish people, but to rescue all the descendants of Jacob, including modern-day nations such as the United States and Britain, who will also have fallen to this future European power. 

To learn more about the world scene in the end time, read “World News and End-Time Prophecy: The Nations.” 

Continue to watch the Middle East

Yes, the events we are witnessing in the news will ultimately result in a power shift in the Middle East. Iran’s regional influence will not last. A new and more powerful influence is prophesied to come on the scene, both in the Middle East and in Europe.

Israel, once widely seen as a nation seeking peace, is increasingly perceived as an aggressor. Although it still enjoys support from the United States, prophecy reveals that this relationship, rooted in a shared heritage as brother nations, will eventually be broken. Zechariah 11:14 foretells that the bond between these two nations will be severed.

What is unfolding before our eyes is the preparation for a series of global events that, as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:22, will escalate to the point of threatening human survival itself.

Yet, there is hope. 

God will intervene by sending Jesus Christ to rescue humanity, establish the Kingdom of God on earth and bring lasting peace to all nations.

Continue to watch world events, especially the Middle East, and pray earnestly for the return of Jesus Christ.

Date Posted: March 6, 2026