Will Netanyahu's and Trumps Obsession With Regime Change in Iran; Unleash the Rider of the Red Horse of Revelation, in an Apocalyptic Middle East War?

 

In Revelation 6:3-4we are told that when the red horse rides peace will be taken from our world: 

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 

 While our world rejoiced as Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire on June 24th 2025 ending "The Twelve Day War" between Israel, and Iran; "Plan Net Earth" is now back on Da Front Burner, as the world watches while the Middle East is once again starting to boil, with renewed volatility as the longstanding rift between Israel, the United States, and Iran stands as a stark reminder that we are most certainly living in a time of "wars, and rumors of wars" of seemingly never-ending geopolitical upheaval . 

Now amidst escalating protests all across Iran, starting around December 28, 2025—sparked by economic despair caused by the near total collapse in the value of Iran's Rial fiat currency. Increasingly harsher pushback by the Islamic Regime led by the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  have turned shockingly deadly as reports of as many as 20,000 Iranian civilians have perished in just the past few days. 

Iran's Currency Collapse; The Rial Reason Political Protests Against Ayatollah Khamenei's Regime are Escalating All Across the Country:

Iran's Rial Plunges to around 1.47 million per U.S. Dollar & it's value against the Euro has dropped to zero & no longer exchangeable in E.U. pic.twitter.com/tZ8owEpRs9

— DaKey2Eternity (@Key2Eternity) January 14, 2026

Meanwhile the  Trump administration has once again wielded economic sanctions as its weapon of choice. This move not only revives the "maximum pressure" campaign from Trump's first term but also intensifies global trade tensions through blanket tariffs on nations engaging in economic trade with Tehran, and Iran's vast oil reserves.  

Amid this contemporary drama, some observers draw parallels to ancient biblical prophecies, interpreting the bitter Israel-Iran antagonism as a harbinger of end-times conflicts foretold in scriptures from Ezekiel to Revelation. This article delves into the most stringent U.S. sanctions against Iran that remain in effect, explores the restrictions on Iranian oil exports, examines the catastrophic plunge of the Iranian Rial to near-worthless levels against the Euro and U.S. Dollar, and analyzes how this currency collapse has ignited tens of thousands of protesters to flood the streets in defiance of Ayatollah Khamenei's regime—offering a lens through which to view the potential for a cataclysmic war

The Legacy of "Maximum Pressure": Trump's Sanctions ResurrectedThe roots of the current U.S. sanctions against Iran trace back to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, but it was during Donald Trump's first term (2017-2021) that they reached their zenith. In May 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama, which had eased sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. Labeling the deal "defective at its core," Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions aimed at crippling Iran's economy, isolating it diplomatically, and forcing concessions on its nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile development, and regional influence.
Fast-forward to 2026, and these measures have not only endured but evolved under Trump's second term. As of January 2026, the U.S. maintains a comprehensive sanctions framework administered primarily by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the Treasury Department. These sanctions target Iran's financial sector, energy exports, military entities, and accusations against alleged human rights abusers, with secondary sanctions extending penalties to foreign entities that do business with sanctioned Iranian parties. The "maximum pressure" doctrine, first articulated in 2018, remains the guiding principle, as evidenced by recent designations of Iranian oil facilitators and shadow fleets.
Among the most prominent sanctions still in effect from the Trump era:

1. Energy Sector Sanctions: Executive Order 13846, issued in August 2018, reimposed sanctions on Iran's petroleum and petrochemical sectors. This prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions involving Iranian crude oil, refined products, or related shipping and insurance. In 2025, these were reinforced with designations of over 50 vessels and entities in Iran's "ghost fleet"—aging tankers used in attempts to evade detection while transporting oil. As a result, Iran's oil exports, which peaked at over 2.5 million barrels per day pre-2018, have been slashed, though illicit sales to buyers like China persist at discounted rates.
2. Financial and Banking Restrictions: The U.S. has severed Iran from the global SWIFT banking system since 2018, isolating its central bank and major financial institutions. Executive Order 13902 (2020) expanded this to target Iran's construction, mining, manufacturing, and textiles sectors, deeming them part of the regime's revenue stream for "malign activities." In 2026, these remain active, with additional layers from the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) of 2017, which mandates penalties on entities aiding Iran's ballistic missile program.
3. Human Rights and Terrorism Designations: Sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and Executive Order 13224 target Iranian officials and entities involved in human rights abuses or terrorism support. For instance, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2019, faces asset freezes and transaction bans. These have been invoked amid the 2026 protests, where over 2,000 demonstrators have reportedly been killed, prompting new designations of regime figures.
4. Nuclear-Related Measures: Post-JCPOA withdrawal, the U.S. reinstated sanctions on Iran's nuclear program under Executive Order 13871 (2019), targeting metals like steel and aluminum used in enrichment facilities. In September 2025, the UN Security Council, influenced by U.S. and European pressure, "snapped back" multilateral sanctions, prohibiting arms transfers and freezing assets tied to Iran's atomic agency.

These sanctions have devastated Iran's economy: inflation hovers above 40%, the Rial has plummeted, and growing unemployment is fueling unrest. Yet, Tehran has adapted through barter deals, cryptocurrency, and alliances with non-Western powers like Russia and China. Trump's recent announcement of a 25% tariff on any country "doing business with the Islamic Republic" marks a bold escalation, potentially affecting $125 billion in Iranian trade partners, including major importers like China ($32 billion in 2024) and India. This "secondary tariff" strategy aims to isolate Iran further but risks broader trade wars, as seen in reactions from Beijing and New Delhi.Forbidden Flows: Iran's Oil Exports Under SiegeIran's oil sector, accounting for up to 70% of government revenue pre-sanctions, is the linchpin of U.S. strategy. The question of which countries Iran is "not allowed" to sell oil to is nuanced: U.S. sanctions do not directly prohibit sovereign nations from buying Iranian oil but impose severe penalties on entities that do so without exemptions. This extraterritorial reach, known as secondary sanctions, threatens foreign banks, companies, and insurers with exclusion from the U.S. financial system—a death knell for global operations.
Under current rules, no country has a blanket waiver to import Iranian oil freely. During Trump's first term, temporary Significant Reduction Exceptions (SREs) were granted to eight nations—China, India, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Italy, Greece, and Taiwan—to gradually reduce imports without immediate penalties. These expired in 2019, and none have been renewed in 2026. Instead, the U.S. targets facilitators: in October 2025, OFAC sanctioned Chinese "teapot" refineries and UAE-based traders for handling Iranian crude.
De facto, Iran sells oil primarily to:

• China: The largest buyer, importing 1.2-1.8 million barrels per day in 2025, often relabeled as Malaysian or Omani crude to evade detection. Beijing shrugs off U.S. threats, but Trump's tariffs could hike costs for Chinese exports to America.
• India: Imports have fluctuated, dropping post-2019 but rebounding illicitly. New Delhi complies superficially but faces pressure amid U.S.-India strategic ties.
• Turkey and Syria: Smaller volumes via overland or shadow fleets, sanctioned under CAATSA.

Countries explicitly "not allowed" without risking sanctions include all U.S. allies: the EU, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, which have aligned with U.S. policy. Even non-allies like Russia and Venezuela trade cautiously, often through barter. The 2026 tariffs broaden this: any nation—say, Brazil or South Africa—trading with Iran risks 25% duties on U.S. imports, potentially disrupting global supply chains.
This oil embargo has geopolitical ripple effects. Iran's "resistance economy" falters, pushing it toward nuclear brinkmanship and proxy conflicts via Hezbollah and the Houthis. In June 2025, Israel and the U.S. conducted joint strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, escalating fears of direct war. As protests rage in Tehran, Trump's rhetoric hints at military options, including cyberattacks or airstrikes, to "rescue" demonstrators.The Rial's Precipitous Plunge: From Currency to DustCompounding the sanctions' bite is the Iranian Rial's catastrophic depreciation, which has effectively rendered it worthless against major currencies like the U.S. Dollar and Euro. As of January 14, 2026, black market rates show 1 USD trading at approximately 1.47 million IRR, a staggering low that marks a 20,000-fold loss in value since the 1979 revolution. Similarly, 1 Euro fetches around 1.72 million IRR, making everyday transactions a nightmare for ordinary Iranians. While not literally zero—the official rate hovers around 1 million IRR to USD—the hyper-depreciation has eroded purchasing power to negligible levels, fueling hyperinflation and economic chaos.
Several intertwined factors have driven this plunge, accelerating in 2025-2026:

1. Sanctions and Hard Currency Shortage: U.S. and UN "snapback" sanctions in September 2025 have throttled Iran's oil exports, its primary source of foreign exchange. Iran loses 20% of potential revenues bypassing restrictions via shadow fleets to China and Malaysia. With exports halved, Tehran struggles to access dollars or euros, forcing reliance on discounted black market sales and depleting reserves.
2. Runaway Inflation: Official inflation hit 42.5% in December 2025, projected at 42.4% for 2026 by the IMF. This erodes confidence in the Rial, prompting citizens to hoard foreign currencies, gold, or essentials. Food and housing prices have skyrocketed, with meat and cooking oil becoming unaffordable for most by early 2025.
3. Economic Contraction and Mismanagement: Iran's GDP contracted 1.7% in 2025, with a forecasted 2.8% shrinkage in 2026, per the World Bank. The IRGC's dominance over key sectors stifles growth, while fiscal policies—like a 62% tax hike in the 2026 budget—exacerbate deficits amid falling oil revenues. Policy shifts in December 2025, requiring importers to buy foreign exchange at market rates, spiked dollar demand overnight.
4. Geopolitical Isolation and Unrest: Diplomatic isolation, coupled with the 2025 Israel-Iran war, has drained resources. Protests themselves create a feedback loop: unrest deters investment, further weakening the economy.

This collapse has pushed 22-50% of Iranians below the poverty line since 2022, turning the Rial into a symbol of regime failure.Streets Aflame: Currency Collapse Ignites Mass Protests Against KhameneiThe Rial's nosedive has been the spark that ignited Iran's most explosive protests in years, drawing tens of thousands to the streets in a direct challenge to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 35-year rule. What began as economic grievances in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28, 2025—over soaring prices and the currency's record low of 1.42 million IRR to USD—rapidly evolved into nationwide anti-regime demonstrations by January 2026.
Protesters, from shopkeepers to students, chant "Death to the dictator" and "No Lebanon, no Gaza, we sacrifice for Iran," rejecting the regime's foreign adventures.
The currency crisis has eroded living standards: with inflation at 42%, wages lag far behind, and basics like food surge in cost. This has united a broad coalition—urban elites, rural workers, and even traditionally loyal bazaaris—demanding systemic change.