A high-level Iranian official made a series of bold challenges regarding the recent six-month interim nuclear deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif claimed on January 22 that Washington has falsely portrayed information from the supposedly “historic deal.” Zarif, who was instrumental in negotiating the deal in Geneva, told cnn Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto that the Obama administration has been lying to the world about the deal. He said the White House interpretation of the deal “underplays the concessions and overplays Iranian commitments.”

A White House fact sheet issued after the deal states that Iran is committed to “rolling back key elements,” including halting the enrichment of uranium beyond 5 percent, neutralizing its stockpile of near-20 percent uranium, stopping enrichment capability, and halting progress on the growth of its 3.5 percent stockpile of uranium.

But Zarif brought up a valid point in his interview with cnn. None of these commitments involve dismantling the infrastructure that makes production possible. Yet this is exactly what the U.S. has repeatedly said that Iran is going to do. Zarif continued the interview: “The White House tries to portray [the deal] as basically a dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. That is the word they use time and time again.”

Zarif went on to say that “we are not dismantling any centrifuges, we’re not dismantling any equipment, we’re simply not producing, not enriching over 5 percent.”

Zarif is completely correct in saying that the perspective Washington is trying to portray is false. Read for yourself the “key elements” for “rolling back” the nuclear program by clicking this link. You will see that there is nothing about destroying nuclear infrastructure.

Now consider the statements that the U.S. has been using. “Roll back” is a curious term. What is being rolled back? Is Iran being forced to take any real steps backward? Neutralizing its stockpile of near-20 percent uranium could be considered a step back, but is hardly effectual considering it doesn’t destroy Iran’s ability to start producing more at a moment’s notice. Halting enrichment isn’t a backward step; it’s just standing in place.

Bret Stephens from the Wall Street Journal explained that the demand of the deal on Iran was to “Not stop or suspend [nuclear technologies], mind you, much less dismantle them, but merely reduce their pace from run to jog when they’re on Mile 23 of their nuclear marathon” (Nov. 11, 2013)

In response to Zarif’s comments, a senior U.S. official told cnn, “We expected that the Iranians would need to spin this for their domestic political purposes, and are not surprised they are doing that.” This statement is disingenuous if it isn’t ignorant. Tehran is far less interested in selling the Geneva deal to its population as it is determined to gain nuclear weapons for itself.

The general population in Iran should be excited about the nuclear deal. After all, it means sanctions relief that will save the ailing economy and halt the skyrocketing cost of living. The main opposition to the deal comes from radicals and hard-line Islamists—but they pose little threat to Rouhani so long as the ayatollah, Iran’s supreme leader, continues to support Rouhani’s decisions.

The Iranian regime isn’t merely attempting to appease domestic opponents by saying that it won’t be dismantling its nuclear program. Iran is actively demonstrating that it has no plans on ending its quest to obtain nuclear weapons! The Geneva deal will not force it to stop, despite how the U.S. might portray it.

White House officials are continually using terms such as “roll back” and “dismantle” in an effort to sell the Geneva deal both domestically and internationally. But as Iran is showing, it is a sham. The deal doesn’t entail Iran making any lasting changes. This is no historic breakthrough.

In an article released shortly after President Obama’s infamous phone call to Rouhani, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry said that Iran “knows that the U.S. is finished! There is nothing to stop its nuclear ambitions! And it isn’t going to relax—it is going to proceed full steam ahead!”

That is exactly what we see today. Tehran is taking advantage of loopholes, ignoring agreements and exploiting the weak deals that the international community has made. Continue to watch as Iran charges ahead with its nuclear ambitions. It is all headed toward the fulfillment of great prophecies in the Middle East, including the rise of the king of the south—a power bloc of radical Islamic nations to be headed up by Iran.

If you are interested in the way that world events are unfolding in the Mideast, and want to understand more than the who, what, when and where—to grasp the all-important why—then be sure to pick up a copy of The King of the South, and History and Prophecy of the Middle East. These booklets—along with the articles published on theTrumpet.com, will give you a comprehensive insight into the prophetic significance of the ongoing turmoil in the region, and the joy-filled conclusion that today seems so out of reach.