IRANIAN authorities have confirmed they are keeping channels open with the United States as President Donald Trump considers how to respond to a deadly nationwide crackdown on protesters, one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 Revolution.
The unrest, triggered by soaring living costs, has evolved into defiant calls for the fall of the entrenched clerical leadership.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that Trump added to the pressure on Monday by announcing a 25 per cent tariff on exports to the United States from any country conducting business with Iran, though he did not specify which trading partners would be affected or the legal basis for the move.
“This Order is final and conclusive,” Trump stated on social media. Iran, which exports much of its oil to China, as well as Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and India, has so far declined to comment on the tariffs.
The U.S. president has repeatedly warned that Iranian security forces must refrain from targeting demonstrators.
“A meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what is happening before the meeting,” he told reporters, alluding to possible military or cyber responses alongside expanded sanctions and support for anti-government groups.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised that diplomacy remained the administration’s first choice, adding, “What you're hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that communications with the U.S. special envoy continued, though he described Washington’s proposals as “incompatible” with the threats from the United States.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State urged American citizens in Iran to consider leaving the country via land routes to Armenia or Turkey, citing “significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention.”
Rights group HRANA reported that as of late Monday, 646 people had been killed since the protests began on December 28, including 505 demonstrators, 113 military and security personnel, and seven bystanders, with 579 more deaths under investigation.
Authorities have arrested 10,721 individuals, according to the organisation. Families of victims gathered at Tehran’s Behesht Zahra Cemetery chanting protest slogans, as sporadic internet access via Starlink continued despite a government blackout.
The government has blamed the unrest on “U.S.- and Israeli-backed terrorists” while Iranian intelligence announced the detention of groups accused of attacking paramilitary forces, burning mosques, and targeting military sites.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf described the situation as a four-front war, including economic, psychological, military, and anti-terrorism campaigns.
Despite the widespread demonstrations, there are no signs of division within the clerical leadership, military, or security forces, and the opposition remains fragmented.
The protests have sent world oil prices to seven-week highs amid concerns that Iran’s exports could fall. Analysts note that the country’s regional influence has been weakened by recent conflicts, including last year’s war with Israel and losses suffered by allies such as Hezbollah.
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last Shah, urged Trump to intervene swiftly, warning, “I think the president has a decision to make fairly soon.” Qalibaf, meanwhile, cautioned that any attack on Iran would render Israeli and U.S. installations legitimate targets. - January 13, 2026
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