Around 2,000 people have died in ongoing protests across Iran, an Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday, citing attacks by “terrorists” as responsible for the deaths of both civilians and security personnel.

The protests, which have swept the country in recent weeks, were sparked by widespread discontent with the government and have been met with a deadly crackdown. The rising death toll underscores the intensity of the unrest and the escalating violence across multiple cities.

In response to the crackdown, US President Donald Trump announced that countries conducting business with Iran could face a 25 percent tariff on trade with the United States. The move is part of Washington’s efforts to exert economic pressure on Tehran following the deadly unrest.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.”

Tariffs are paid by US importers of goods from affected countries. Iran, a member of the OPEC oil producing group, has been under heavy US sanctions for years and exports much of its oil to China. Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India are also among its major trading partners.

Trump added: “This Order is final and conclusive,” without offering further details.

There was no official documentation on the White House website outlining the policy, its legal basis, or whether the tariffs would apply to all of Iran’s trading partners. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. (Arise News)