Late last week, an unconfirmed news report revealed an alleged letter President Trump sent to Iran’s ayatollah:

"Your Excellency Ayatollah Khamenei,

With respect for your position and the people of Iran, I write this message to you with the aim of opening new horizons for our relations, far from the years of conflict and misunderstandings we have witnessed in past decades. The time has come to abandon enmity and open a new chapter based on mutual cooperation and respect. Today, too, there is a historic opportunity before us.

The United States, under my leadership, is ready to take a major step toward peace and easing tensions. We can work together to lift sanctions, empower the Iranian economy, and open the doors of cooperation between our countries. This is not only in the interest of our peoples, but also in the interest of stability and peace in the Middle East and the entire world.

But I warn you — if you reject this outstretched hand, and if the Iranian regime chooses the path of escalation and continued support for terrorist organizations and military adventures, then our response will be decisive and swift. We will not remain idle in the face of your regime’s threats to our people or our allies.

Peace is not weakness. It is the choice of the strong. The Iranian people are a great people who deserve a better future, far from isolation, poverty, and suffering.

If you are ready to negotiate, we are ready too. But if you persist in ignoring the demands of the world, history will record that you missed a tremendous opportunity.

With respect."

If the correspondence is confirmed as legitimate, is it possible to make peace with Iran? The prospect of such seems preposterous, given Iran’s radical history of vowing to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. But it doesn’t stop with Israel. “Death to Israel, death to America” are common chants heard from radical Iranians.

What is not clearly understood in the west is that conflict between the Middle East and the west has rarely, if ever, been political. It is spiritual. It is a battle of ideologies birthed via Abraham’s family tree. God promised blessing through a very specific lineage: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet, because of man’s propensity to “play god,” Abrahm and Sarah bore Ishmael (Isaac’s half-brother), and Isaac and Rebecca bore Esau (Jacob’s brother). Conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and between Jacob and Esau rages until this very day.

Ishmael and Esau’s lineages ultimately became Arab and opposed Isaac and Jacob’s lineage, the Jews. That conflict remains to this day, manifesting itself in the predominate religions of each: Islam for the Arabs and Judaism for the Jews. Each has their version of scripture, including their calling to fulfill their variety of eschatology (end times).

In brief (and very simplified), Muslim theology includes ridding the earth of “infidels” (those who do not believe in Islam) in order to bring about the coming of their messiah. Spiritually, Islam not only allows, but encourages, the destruction of Jews and Christians…and they are coming for both.

If you are born and raised to understand that your sole purpose is to destroy Jews and Christians, what do you expect the chances of peace with Jews and Christians to be? Furthermore, Scripture gives significant indication that the rift between Isaac and Ishmael’s descendants will likely never be resolved.

So, is peace possible with Iran when the ayatollahs believe Allah has called them to destroy infidels in order to hasten the coming of the last imam? From an earthly perspective, it seems impossible, and attempts seem to be a waste of time.

However, God’s Word proclaims blessings to the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Is President Trump in the wrong for attempting a peace deal with Iran? Absolutely not! Peace should always be attempted, despite the reality that, short of God moving in ways only He can, peace does not seem remotely possible. It is totally up to Iran and the ill-fated guidance of Allah to choose peace against the backdrop of a religious system based on destruction.

Similar to Elijah’s challenge to the Baal’s who were also ruled by false religion, I doubt this will end well for Iran. Let’s pray God’s wisdom engulfs our president.