This article explains why negotiations nor deals, nor economic pressure, nor destroying their country's infrastructure will make Iran give up what they believe is a "divine mission", and war is what they want to bring their "messiah"
From Mar 4, 2026
*Excerpts from article:
Most wars can be halted through political pressure, negotiation, or deterrence. But this conflict is grounded in a dogma that sanctifies destruction and bloodshed as necessary steps toward redemption. Within this framework, Israel’s destruction is not simply a strategic objective; it is portrayed as a sacred duty. Iran will therefore persist in waging this war because its leaders believe they are carrying out God’s work, and that only through Israel’s elimination will redemption arrive. Until the West grasps this theological dimension, its response to Iran will remain inadequate—and dangerously naïve.
The Iranian regime considers their nation to be chosen by Allah to prepare the world for the coming of their messiah, the Twelfth Imam (whom they call the Mahdi) who will establish justice in the world. They believe that catastrophic world chaos and the defeat of their enemies, especially Israel, are prerequisites for this event. Their murder and mayhem is not only a means to an end; according to their religion it is an end in itself, and their foreign policy is guided by the desired impending apocalypse. This makes them a most dangerous foe, since there is no chance of negotiating with them or resolving the conflict peacefully; peace and justice will come only through their own martyrdom, in their view.
The leader for whom Iran prepares the way is the Twelfth Imam, or the Mahdi. Twelver Shia Muslims believe that the Mahdi disappeared in the 9th century and was placed into “divine occultation” (ghaybah), where he will remain until he reappears to declare victory over all the world’s Islamic infidels and establish a global Shia Islamic kingdom. Chaos and war, however, are necessary to bring his return.
Perhaps the scariest part of Iran’s apocalyptic belief system that is not deterred by mutually assured destruction is Iran’s feverish desire to obtain nuclear weapons. Whereas other states see nuclear weapons as tools for deterrence, Iran’s regime believes nuclear weapons will allow them to destroy Israel, and possibly the world, facilitating the necessary chaos for the arrival of the Twelfth Imam.
Iran’s genocidal dreams about Israel cannot be dismissed as rhetoric, political bluster, or even calculated decisions that can be altered through international engagement and rational discourse. It is a religiously motivated war, and until the world recognizes this, containment of Iran will fail. This is not a regime that can be negotiated with or appeased.
blogs.timesofisrael.com
From Mar 4, 2026
*Excerpts from article:
Most wars can be halted through political pressure, negotiation, or deterrence. But this conflict is grounded in a dogma that sanctifies destruction and bloodshed as necessary steps toward redemption. Within this framework, Israel’s destruction is not simply a strategic objective; it is portrayed as a sacred duty. Iran will therefore persist in waging this war because its leaders believe they are carrying out God’s work, and that only through Israel’s elimination will redemption arrive. Until the West grasps this theological dimension, its response to Iran will remain inadequate—and dangerously naïve.
The Iranian regime considers their nation to be chosen by Allah to prepare the world for the coming of their messiah, the Twelfth Imam (whom they call the Mahdi) who will establish justice in the world. They believe that catastrophic world chaos and the defeat of their enemies, especially Israel, are prerequisites for this event. Their murder and mayhem is not only a means to an end; according to their religion it is an end in itself, and their foreign policy is guided by the desired impending apocalypse. This makes them a most dangerous foe, since there is no chance of negotiating with them or resolving the conflict peacefully; peace and justice will come only through their own martyrdom, in their view.
The leader for whom Iran prepares the way is the Twelfth Imam, or the Mahdi. Twelver Shia Muslims believe that the Mahdi disappeared in the 9th century and was placed into “divine occultation” (ghaybah), where he will remain until he reappears to declare victory over all the world’s Islamic infidels and establish a global Shia Islamic kingdom. Chaos and war, however, are necessary to bring his return.
Perhaps the scariest part of Iran’s apocalyptic belief system that is not deterred by mutually assured destruction is Iran’s feverish desire to obtain nuclear weapons. Whereas other states see nuclear weapons as tools for deterrence, Iran’s regime believes nuclear weapons will allow them to destroy Israel, and possibly the world, facilitating the necessary chaos for the arrival of the Twelfth Imam.
Iran’s genocidal dreams about Israel cannot be dismissed as rhetoric, political bluster, or even calculated decisions that can be altered through international engagement and rational discourse. It is a religiously motivated war, and until the world recognizes this, containment of Iran will fail. This is not a regime that can be negotiated with or appeased.
The Blogs: Iran’s War Against Israel: The Shia Eschatological Vision & Messianic Conflict
From the blog of Tim Orr at The Times of Israel
blogs.timesofisrael.com
