Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Iran Trade Partners as Protest Death Toll Rises

US President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country trading with Iran, escalating pressure as rights groups report that at least 648 people have been killed in nationwide protests.

Trump, who has repeatedly warned of possible military action, posted on social media Monday that the tariffs would “immediately” apply to Iran’s trading partners who also do business with the United States.
“This Order is final and conclusive,” he wrote, without specifying which countries would be directly affected.

According to Trading Economics, Iran’s main trading partners include China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.

The announcement comes amid more than two weeks of demonstrations in Iran, initially sparked by economic grievances but now seen as one of the biggest challenges to the theocratic system since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The unrest has persisted despite a near-total internet blackout and lethal force.

The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) confirmed 648 deaths during the protests, including nine minors, while warning that the true number may exceed 6,000. The group also estimated that around 10,000 people had been arrested.
“The international community has a duty to protect civilian protesters against mass killing by the Islamic republic,” said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.

The White House said Trump remains “unafraid” to use military force but is prioritizing diplomacy as a first step.

Meanwhile, Iran sought to display control through mass pro-government rallies hailed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as proof that the protests were failing.
“These massive rallies, full of determination, have thwarted the plan of foreign enemies that were supposed to be carried out by domestic mercenaries,” Khamenei said, according to state TV.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told crowds in Tehran that Iran faces a “four-front war”: economic, psychological, military with the US and Israel, and a “war against terrorists,” referencing the protests. Flanked by banners reading “Death to Israel, Death to America,” he warned the US that any attack would be met with a strong response.

At the same time, Trump said Iran’s leadership had reached out seeking negotiation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran was “not seeking war but is fully prepared for war” while maintaining channels of communication with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s ousted shah, criticized Tehran’s approach, telling CBS News that the regime is “trying to trick the world into thinking it is ready to negotiate.” He added that Trump “knows what’s at stake” and that Iran had crossed the red line.

State media emphasized calm in Tehran, reporting fewer protests and smooth traffic, while the government mourned security personnel killed in clashes.

International responses have included the EU considering additional sanctions and banning Iranian diplomats from its assembly, while French President Emmanuel Macron condemned “state violence that indiscriminately targets Iranian women and men.” Russia criticized what it called foreign interference in Iran.

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