Prosper Okoye
Iranian officials say around 2,000 people have been killed during ongoing protests across the country.
The deaths are said to include both civilians and members of the security forces, with the government blaming the violence on what it describes as “terrorists”.
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The figure has not been independently verified.
The protests, which have spread across several cities and regions, were triggered by widespread anger over economic hardship and dissatisfaction with the government.
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Human rights groups and opposition figures accuse the authorities of a violent crackdown, while Iranian officials insist they are responding to armed groups and unrest.
Independent confirmation of the true scale of casualties has been difficult because of limited access to the country.
As unrest continues, Iran’s leadership has accused the United States and Israel of instigating the protests to justify possible military action.
While acknowledging public frustration over rising prices and unemployment, officials say peaceful protest is permitted but violence will not be tolerated.
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On Monday, hundreds of thousands of pro-government supporters rallied in Tehran in a show of force by the authorities.
The demonstrations came amid Iran’s fifth consecutive day of internet restrictions, which have blocked access to social media and foreign news sites.
Domestic websites remain available, and international phone calls have been partially restored, a move analysts see as an attempt to ease tensions without fully lifting controls.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said internet access would be restored soon, though he gave no timeline.
Mr Araghchi also warned that Iran was ready to respond to any military action by Washington. “If the United States wants to test the military option it has used before, we are ready for it,” he told Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has linked the unrest to a new threat of economic pressure on Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social, he said the United States would impose a 25 percent tariff on any country that continues to do business with Iran, describing the decision as “final and conclusive”.
However, tariffs are paid by US importers rather than foreign governments, meaning American companies trading with countries that do business with Iran would bear the cost.
Iran is already under heavy US sanctions and exports much of its oil to China.
Other major trading partners include Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India, raising questions about the potential impact on US relations with those countries.
No official document outlining the legal basis or enforcement of the proposed tariffs has been published, and it remains unclear whether they would apply to all of Iran’s trading partners.
The White House has not responded to requests for clarification.
International concern over the situation is growing. Australia has urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing limited consular access, while the United States issued a similar warning, advising nationals to depart while commercial options remain available.
Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, condemned violence against protesters, saying a government that relies solely on force risks losing legitimacy. “If a regime can only survive through force, it is effectively at its end,” he said, while adding that a peaceful resolution was still possible.
He confirmed Germany was coordinating its response with the United States and European partners.
With protests continuing, communications restricted and foreign governments warning of possible escalation, the situation in Iran remains volatile and uncertain.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
