Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on Muslims around the world to mobilize their troops alongside Iran against Israel and the United States to prepare for the coming of the “”Mahdi” seen as “the savior of Islam”.

Iran’s supreme leader is described as “a direct representative” of the Mahdi and said following his orders is like “obeying the guided one.”

Today’s Religion News Roundup: • Why the word should worry about Iran • A 666 license plate exchange • What could be worse than the Taliban? • Law aimed at hate group used to silence veteran instead

Also: • Germany bans Neo-Nazi youth organization, and • Jews in Brooklyn take the Amish on a walking tour…

When President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad launched Iran’s first domestically built telecommunications satellite into space on Sunday, he did so in the name of the last true Shia imam, Mohammed al-Mahdi.

The launch coincided with the end of festivities in Iran to mark the birthday of the imam, one of the holiest figures in Shia Islam, who is believed to have gone into hiding in the year 941 and will return to bring peace and justice to the world.

But this year’s festivities have proved unusually controversial because of claims that the imam is being exploited for commercial and political purposes.