As tensions escalate in the Middle East and new strikes shake Iran, warnings from decades ago now ring out as not only relevant but also prophetic.
What President Donald Trump said about Iran years ago is now resurfacing in light of dramatic developments in the region—raising questions about whether history is catching up with long-standing predictions about the Islamic regime.
Long before current events unfolded, Trump argued that the regime’s strength was rooted in its wealth—particularly its oil resources.
In a 2016 remark, Trump said, “Let me tell you what I would do. They have great oil. Every place they have oil, I would take the oil… I would knock out the sources of their wealth, which is oil.”
Trump suggested that dismantling Iran’s economic power would weaken its ability to influence the region and fund its ambitions. However, his warnings about Iran did not begin in the modern political era. Back in 1980, during the Iranian hostage crisis, he criticized America’s response to Tehran.
“That this country sits back and allows a country such as Iran to hold our hostages is just absolutely and totally ridiculous,” Trump said. “To my way of thinking, it’s a horror.”
However, Trump was not the only political voice sounding the alarm.
Back in 2015, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also warned about the potential consequences of allowing Iran’s regime to grow stronger—particularly through international agreements that would provide sanctions relief. In a speech on the Senate floor, Rubio urged that his concerns be recorded for the historical record.
“I do want to be recorded for history’s purposes,” Rubio said. “If this deal goes through, Iran will immediately use the money that it’s receiving in sanctions relief to begin to build up its conventional capabilities.”
Rubio predicted that the regime would use new resources to strengthen its military power and threaten the United States and its allies.
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“They’ll build anti-access capabilities, rockets capable of destroying our aircraft carriers and ships,” Rubio warned. “They’ll continue to build long-range missiles… and at some point in the near future, when the time is right, they will build a nuclear weapon.”
Rubio also cautioned that once Iran obtained nuclear capability, it could reach a point where the cost of confronting the regime would become too high—similar to the situation the world now faces with North Korea. He also emphasized that Iran’s leadership operates from a worldview different from the rest of the globe.
“Iran is led by a supreme leader who is a radical Shia cleric with an apocalyptic vision of the future,” Rubio said.
Now, as the United States, Israel and Iran are engaging in strikes, these statements appear to not only be prophetic warnings, but some, such as The Jerusalem Post, are seeing Trump in a light that no person should ever be viewed as, calling him “the Savior of Israel.” While his policies have played a significant role in supporting Israel and confronting the Iranian regime, only Jesus is worthy to be called our Savior, especially for the people of Israel.
To hear the full discussion about Trump’s early warnings and Rubio’s prophetic-sounding concerns about Iran’s rise, watch the video above.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
