Volume 45 Issue Four April 2026
Last Trumpet Ministries ∙ PO Box 806 ∙ Beaver Dam, WI 53916
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The War Report - Part 2
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” - Mark 13:33
The United States and the State of Israel are once again at war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Given the fluid nature of the conflict, it is uncertain what the future may hold. By the time this issue is in your hands, the war may be over, or it may have expanded. This special edition of the Last Trumpet is titled “The War Report - Part 2” because it is a natural sequel to the July 2025 issue, published shortly after the conclusion of the Twelve-Day War last year. If you have not read this previous issue, we are happy to mail you a copy free of charge. It is also available on our website. Our goal in this issue is to report, as accurately as possible, what happened, not to tell you what to think. Nevertheless, these events are already reshaping history and have the potential to change the world forever.
Maximum Pressure
Iran’s ambitions to develop nuclear technology have long been a point of contention with the United States and the State of Israel. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S.-Israeli alliance is highly skeptical of this claim. Shortly after American President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, he made Iran a top priority. On February 4, 2025, Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum promising to restore “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic of Iran. An accompanying press release published by the White House insists that “President Trump will not tolerate Iran possessing a nuclear weapons capability, nor will he stand for their sustained sponsorship of terrorism, especially against U.S. interests.” (1)
Just days after Trump signed his memo reasserting his focus on Iran, a piece by the Wall Street Journal was published on February 12, 2025, which indicates that the State of Israel was seriously considering military action against Iran. The piece quotes Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz as saying, “Iran is more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities. We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal—to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel.” (2) Thus, we see that the concerns about Iran’s nuclear program are rooted in a fear that Iran might use nuclear weapons to destroy Israel. Given that Trump has positioned himself as a staunch ally to Israel, many wondered at the time if the United States would assist its partner in the Middle East with its operations against the Iranian regime.
The Twelve-Day War
The United States would go on to hold five rounds of talks with Iran between April and May 2025, but these negotiations did not yield an agreement. (3) Iran’s recently deceased Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remained defiant throughout the negotiation process, insisting on June 4, 2025, that Iran would continue to enrich uranium regardless of the objections of the United States and Israel. “Uranium enrichment is the key to our nuclear program and the enemies have focused on the enrichment,” Khamenei said at the time. He further added, “The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have an enrichment?” (4)
On June 13, 2025, the State of Israel launched a surprise attack against Iran. The brief conflict that ensued would eventually come to be known as the Twelve-Day War. (5) During these hostilities, Israeli forces especially targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. The United States joined the fight on June 22, 2025, striking Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The bombings in Iran included the use of massive bunker buster bombs, which are designed to destroy targets deep underground. An assessment from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency concluded that the damage inflicted by the United States likely set back Iran’s nuclear program by months. (6) However, it was far from the definitive destruction for which the United States and Israel were hoping.
Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses U.S. forces, on June 23, 2025. However, Iran informed both Qatar and the United States that the missiles were coming ahead of time. The symbolic retaliation inflicted no damage. (7) One day later, President Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which resulted in an end to the hostilities. (8) Yet the underlying tension remained unresolved, setting the stage for further military intervention. Interestingly, an ominous warning from the President followed the 2025 bombings. “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” Trump declared. (9)
An Inseparable Bond
Speaking in October 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Donald Trump Israel’s “greatest friend,” and insisted that “No American president has ever done more for Israel. It ain’t even close.” Netanyahu then made special mention of the June 2025 attack on Iran, stating, “Thank you for supporting Operation Rising Lion and for your bold decision to launch Operation Midnight Hammer. Boy, you got to hear this — this is the most fitting name ever given to a military operation, because a little after midnight, you really hammered them." (10)
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced in December 2025 that President Trump would be awarded the Israel Prize, Israel’s highest civilian honor, typically reserved for Israeli citizens. According to the Education Ministry, Trump will be given the award for his “work in the fight against antisemitism, his contribution to promoting the return of the hostages to Israel, the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and his consistent support for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself.” Trump is expected to receive the award on April 22, 2026, during Israel’s Independence Day celebration. (11)
Israel’s intention to give President Trump the Israel Prize is another indicator of the close bond between the current leader of the United States and the people of Israel. Kisch referred to this bond as “inseparable,” stating, “the prize proves the deep, eternal, and inseparable bond between the Israeli and American people.” (12) Given this close unity, it is evident that the affairs of Israel play a significant role in President Trump’s foreign policy.
Prelude To A War
As part of Trump’s plan to exert maximum pressure on Iran, the United States resumed talks with the Iranian regime in early 2026. These negotiations occurred against the backdrop of a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East as the American President warned Iran to make a deal or face the consequences. “Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!" Trump wrote on January 28, 2026. He then added, “The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.” (13) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled a willingness to negotiate with the Americans but also warned in a post on X that Iranian forces “are prepared - with their fingers on the trigger - to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression.” (14)
The first round of negotiations between Iran and the Americans was held on February 6. Iranian diplomats described the meeting as “a good start,” but no agreement was made. (15) The two sides met again on February 17 in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran seemed more pleased with the negotiations than the Americans, with Minister Araghchi commenting, “Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement.” American Vice President J.D. Vance was less optimistic. “In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards. But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News. (16) Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, remained defiant, insisting on February 17, “Iran will not pledge allegiance to corrupt leaders currently in power in the United States.” He also said, “They keep saying we have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran. Very well, an aircraft carrier is a dangerous device, but more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.” (17)
By February 20, President Trump’s patience was wearing thin, prompting him to make an ultimatum to Iran. “It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal; otherwise, bad things happen. And you’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days,” Trump warned. (18) On February 26, the final talks were held in Geneva. President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special American envoy Steve Witkoff were reportedly “disappointed” with the results. (19) Two days later, bombs were falling on Iran.
Operation Epic Fury
In late February 2026, American President Donald Trump received an urgent phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At this pivotal moment, both world leaders knew a meeting was planned involving some of Iran’s most powerful officials. According to a report from Reuters, Netanyahu used this moment to urge Trump to attack Iran, noting that it was an opportunity to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (20) Less than 48 hours after the phone call, on the morning of February 28, 2026, Operation Epic Fury commenced, and U.S. forces bombed the location of the meeting in Iran, which resulted in the death of Khamenei and several of his top lieutenants. These officials include Khamenei’s top adviser, Ali Shamkhani; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Mohammad Pakpour; chief of staff of the armed forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi; and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. (21) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would later explain the United States’ rationale for attacking Iran. “We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.” However, Trump contradicted Rubio’s assertion when he said, “I might have forced their (Israel’s) hand. If we didn't do it, they (Iran) were going to attack first.” (22)
With Khamenei out of the picture and multiple high-ranking Iranian officials dead, President Trump urged the people of Iran to “take over” the Iranian government, insisting that “it will be yours to take.” He then added, “This will be probably your only chance for generations.” (23) However, after more than a month of military intervention in Iran, there is no indication that this uprising is coming.
Who’s Winning?
President Trump has expressed a goal to dramatically weaken the Iranian military. “We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump insisted. “We’re going to annihilate their navy.” On March 6, Trump called on Iranian forces to surrender, writing on social media, “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.” (24) A few days later, Trump expressed his belief that the war was mostly won. “I think the war is very complete, pretty much.” Speaking to reporters on March 9, Trump said, “We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough.” By March 20, the President suggested that the United States might soon wind down its military operations in Iran. “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts,” he wrote on Truth Social. (25) The United States has struck more than 11,000 targets in Iran since the war began. (26)
Although Trump has previously hinted that the war might end soon, a peaceful resolution requires an agreement from both sides. Interestingly enough, a report published by The Wall Street Journal on March 20, 2026, claims that Iran believes it is winning the war. (27) Thus, we have an unusual situation wherein both sides believe they are winning. This disparity is due to a difference in interpretation as to what “winning” means.
For the Iranians, winning means surviving, and having the means to rebuild their military capabilities after the United States stops attacking. To achieve this objective, Iran is attempting to inflict as much economic pain as possible on both the United States and its allies. This strategy involves heavily restricting the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage in the Persian Gulf through which 20 percent of the world’s oil supply is transported. For countries such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, this loss of oil supply is devastating. The United States is better able to withstand the disruption because it imports far less oil from the Middle East. Yet oil and gasoline prices rise in this country, too, due to global supply and demand.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz by attacking vessels in the narrow waterway that do not have permission from the regime to be there. About twenty ships have been attacked by Iran throughout March 2026. Thus, the waterway, which used to carry about 130 ships per day, has slowed to a trickle. As of March 25, only 90 vessels have successfully made the journey since Iran began restricting traffic. An estimated two thousand ships are trapped in the region as of late March 2026. (28) It is worth noting that these ships transport more than oil. The closure of Hormuz has sparked growing concern about shortages of other vital resources, such as aluminum and fertilizer.
As would be expected, Iran’s own tankers are allowed to transit the strait unimpeded. Vessels from other countries that are on friendly terms with Iran have also been allowed through. Some have paid as much as two million dollars per vessel to Iran for safe passage. (29) This fee could become a permanent feature of the Strait of Hormuz, which would essentially become a tollbooth for Iran if the current regime survives the war.
Another part of Iran’s strategy since the war started has been to destabilize U.S. allies in the region. In the early days of the fighting, Iran fired missiles at Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, with a special emphasis on locations that host American military personnel. (30) Saudi Arabia and Israel have also been frequent targets. The Saudi government addressed these attacks in a statement declaring, “Our primary concern today is to defend ourselves from the daily attacks on our people and our civilian infrastructure. Iran has chosen dangerous brinkmanship over serious diplomatic solutions. This harms every stakeholder involved but none more than Iran itself.” (31) A piece from Axios published on March 10, 2026, reveals that at least 20 countries are militarily involved in the war, including Russia, which has helped Iranian forces target American assets in the Middle East. (32) Russia is also reportedly sending upgraded attack drones to Iran for use against the United States. (33) The longer the war continues, the greater the risk that more countries will be pulled in.
In recent days, the Trump Administration has sought to establish dialogue with Iran in the hopes of ending the war. According to the New York Times, the United States sent a 15-point plan to Iran via Pakistan (34). However, a senior Iranian official told Iran’s media outlet, Press TV, that the terms of the deal are “excessive” and insisted that the war would only end “on Tehran’s own terms and timeline.” Iran has set five conditions for ending the war. The first condition is “complete halting of attacks and assassinations by the U.S. and Israel.” The second is “the establishment of mechanisms to ensure the war doesn't resume.” The third is “compensation for damages caused during the war.” The fourth is “halting all U.S. and Israeli attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.” The fifth is “receiving international recognition and guarantees for Iran's authority over the Strait of Hormuz.” (35) Permanent control of Hormuz would be a vast economic boost for Iran.
A Perilous Inflection Point
As we conclude March 2026, the war is at risk of reaching its most dangerous phase yet. Thousands of American troops have been deployed to the Middle East, leading to speculation that the United States may be preparing a ground invasion of Iran. These troops, including 2,500 Marines aboard the USS Tripoli, have recently arrived in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the troops are being deployed to “give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies should they emerge.” (36) There are presently over 50,000 American troops in the Middle East, which is about 10,000 more than usual. (37)
Amid the ongoing chatter of a ground invasion, Iran’s speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has warned that Iran is prepared to meet its adversary. “The enemy openly sends a message of negotiation and dialogue and secretly plans a ground attack, unaware that our men are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever.” He then continued, “Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased. We are aware of the weaknesses of the enemy, and we can clearly see the effects of terror in the enemy’s army.” His defiant posture suggests that even after a month of war, Iran is not ready to back down. (38) Recent messaging from the White House in Washington, D.C., indicates that President Trump isn’t willing to throw in the towel either. “The president's preference is always peace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She then continued, “But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before. President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again.” (39)
The war in Iran is at a perilous inflection point. If the United States were to cease military operations in Iran now, it might give Iran an opportunity to rebuild its military and weapons supply. This would increase the likelihood of future conflict, especially since Iran will never forget that its Supreme Leader was killed. Iran seems determined to survive even if it costs thousands of lives. When you have two opposing sides that are both determined to win, the result is seldom a peaceful resolution, but a prolonged and escalating conflict. Let’s hope and pray that peace does prevail.
War has been a part of the human experience for nearly as long as humans have existed. Our Saviour warns us in Matthew 24 that “wars and rumours of wars” will continue to happen even until the very end. Yet, even as the world endlessly struggles to find peace, we can find peace in the Prince of Peace. Jesus tells us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.
Thank you for your kind support of this ministry. If you have any prayer requests, we invite you to send them our way. We always give each request individual attention. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Samuel David Meyer
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Please visit https://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org/2025/07_25.html to read The War Report – Part 1.
References
01. The White House, February 4, 2025, whitehouse.gov.
02. The Wall Street Journal, February 12, 2025, By Jared Malsin, Alexander Ward, and Dov Lieber, wsj.com.
03. The Soufan Center, May 28, 2025, By The Soufan Center, thesoufancenter.org.
04. Reuters, June 4, 2025, By Parisa Hafezi, Elwely Elwelly, andJana Choukeir, reuters.com.
05. Encyclopedia Britannica, March 6, 2026, britannica.com.
06. Ibid.
07. Ibid.
08. Ibid.
09. Politico, June 21, 2025, By Eli Stokols, politico.com.
10. Fox News, October 13, 2025, By Morgan Phillips, foxnews.com.
11. The Jerusalem Post, March 22, 2026, By Jerusalem Post Staff, jpost.com.
12. Ibid.
13. Reuters, January 28, 2026, By Reuters, reuters.com.
14. Ibid.
15. Le Monde, February 8, 2026, By Ghazal Golshiri and Philippe Ricard, lemonde.fr.
16. The Jerusalem Post, February 18, 2026, By Lara Sukster Mosheyof, jpost.com.
17. Iran International, February 17, 2026, By Iran International, iranint.com.
18. Iran International, February 20, 2026, By Iran International, iranint.com.
19. Bloomberg, February 26, 2026, By Ben Bartenstein, Patrick Sykes, and Eltaf Najafizada, bloomberg.com.
20. Reuters, March 23, 2026, By Erin Banco, Gram Slattery, and Maayan Lubell, reuters.com.
21. Axios, March 18, 2026, By Rebecca Falconer, axios.com.
22. Reuters, March 20, 2026, By Kanishka Singh, reuters.com.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. The Guardian, March 28, 2026, By The Guardian, theguardian.com.
27. The Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2026, By Yaroslav Trofimov, wsj.com.
28. The New York Post, March 25, 2026, By Ronny Reyes, nypost.com.
29. The New York Post, March 26, 2026, By Taylor Herzlich, nypost.com.
30. Reuters, February 28, 2026, By Andrew Mills, Maha El Dahan, and Hadeel Al Sayegh, reuters.com.
31. The New York Times, March 24, 2026, By Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt, nytimes.com.
32. Axios, March 10, 2026, By Zachary Basu, axios.com.
33. Associated Press, March 27, 2026, By Emma Burrows, apnews.com.
34. The New York Times, March 24, 2026, By Adam Rasgon, Julian E. Barnes, and Farnaz Fassihi, nytimes.com.
35. Axios, March 25, 2026, By Barak Ravid, axios.com.
36. CBS News, March 28, 2026, By CBS News, cbsnews.com.
37. The New York Times, March 29, 2026, By Helene Cooper, nytimes.com.
38. The Telegraph, March 29, 2026, By Connor Stringer and Fiona Parker, telegraph.co.uk.
39. ABC News, March 25, 2026, By Nicholas Kerr and Alexandra Hutzler, abcnews.com.
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