Ahmadinejad wins Iranian elections amid riots and protests of possible fraud
Written: 6-13-2009
Rapture Forum Staff: Chris
Welcome to this edition of the Rapture Report. Today we will examine the recent election results in Iran and cover the important news coming out of the Middle East. As many of you know, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was up for re-election Friday as the State of Iran went to the polls to vote. Many people before the vote were concerned with what could be widespread corruption and fraud in order for the ruling regime to ensure Ahmadinejad a victory after the polls closed. Ahmadinejad faced a strong reform candidate named Mir Hossein Mousavi. At the end of the election, the Haaretz newspaper quoted sournces that Ahmadinejad captured 62.6% of the supposed vote in Iran.
The result gave 62.6 percent of the vote to Ahmadinejad and 33.75 to Mousavi – a former prime minister who has become the hero of a youth-driven movement seeking greater liberties and a gentler face for Iran abroad. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, closed the door on any chance he could use his limitless powers to intervene in the disputes from the election. In a message on state TV, he urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad, calling the result a "divine assessment."
The reported results sparked outrage and riots in the street as a result of what was seen an election fraud by Mousavi supporters and the international community. Riots have taken place in Tehran and across the country as a result of the election. At one time, it was reported that the two of the main candidates against Ahmadinejad were later arrested. The Haaretz newspaper reported:
Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was reportedly arrested Saturday following the reformist’s defeat at the polls by hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Supporters of Mousavi, the main challenger to Ahmadinejad, have responded to the election with the most serious unrest in Tehran in a decade and claim that the result was the work of a dictatorship. There have been a number of contradictory reports from Iran, in large part due to the heavy restrictions imposed on the media in the Islamic Republic and in particular on foreign reporters.
Further:
As night fell Saturday, the rioting and fires continued on the streets of Tehran. The city’s cell phone network appeared to be down Saturday night. When users tried to call cell phones, a message appeared saying error in connection. There were also reports of difficulties accessing social networking sites – used by Mousavi to rally supporters.
From looking at the situation it appears that the Iranian regime is trying to silence it’s critics and cover-up a possible fraud in the recent elections. The hardline Ahmadinejad is the sort of hardline candidate that the ruling mullahs want in order to face the international community over their nuclear program.
On the eve of Israeli PM Netanyahu’s foreign policy speech on Sunday night, it was being speculated that Ahmadinejad’s showing in the polls could actually boost Israel. The idea was that if the reform candidate had won that it would make it harder for Israel to rally the world against Iran given that a supposed "moderate" had won the elections and that positive changes were coming. Ahmadinejad’s win was actually seen as a positive as it would help the Israelis focus the world’s attention on the Iran nuclear problem. The Israel National News reported:
While Israel’s mass media speculate on what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will or not will say in his major policy speech Sunday, one key to his remarks may be the outcome of Iran�s presidential elections to be held on Friday. A victory by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over his relatively moderate opponent would allow the Prime Minister to focus on the Iranian nuclear threat as a larger issue than construction for Jews in Judea and Samaria.
The protesters of the Iranian election have been calling for a recount and Mousavi has even called for the elections to be cancelled because of the alleged fraud surrounding them. The Jerusalem Post reported:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s main challenger on Sunday called on authorities to cancel Friday’s presidential election, saying it is the only way to restore public trust. Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has accused authorities of election fraud, urged his supporters to continue their "civil and lawful" opposition to results showing Ahmadinejad won by a landslide. He advised police to stop violence against protesters.
Only time will tell what will eventually transpire as it relates to the Iranian elections, but it would seem that given the ruling regime’s desire to see Ahmadinejad continue his prediency that the chances of an election recall are basically slim to none despite the fact there might be a limited recall as some are reporting. However, the riots and disruptions in Iran do show that there is a strong element in Iran that wants to see change, mainly that being the younger generation of Iranians who are frustrated and opposed to the current hardline fanatical regime. But it is my guess that eventually the protests will calm down and Ahmadinejad and the mad mullahs will continue Iran down their chosen path of destruction. Regardless of who wins the Iranian presidential elections, it is certain that Iran will continue on with their evil goals of obtaining nuclear weapons.
As Bible prophecy watchers, the recent Iranian election just seems to confirm that Iran is fully prepared to head down their prophetic path of destiny for Ezekiel 38-39. With Iran keeping a full steam ahead approach to their nuclear programs, they are no doubt making an Israeli attack all the more likely and hopefully soon. And that possible Israel attack could be the domino that puts thing in motions for Ezekiel 38-39. Keep watching and know that as we see things gear up for a climax in the Middle East that we should always be mindful that the blessed hope of the rapture is that much closer. The Lord promised his church that they would be spared of the time and place of his wrath, with that we should know that whatever the news headlines bring us we are moving closer and closer to that glorious event.
God bless.