US President Donald Trump has announced that any country conducting business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States, a move he declared "final and conclusive." This declaration, made via Truth Social, comes as Washington considers its response to the largest anti-government protests Iran has seen in years. While tariffs are paid by US importers, the policy lacks official documentation from the White House, including details on its legal authority or scope, sparking immediate international reactions.

China, a major export destination for Iranian goods alongside the United Arab Emirates and India, strongly opposed Trump's declaration. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington stated that China rejects "any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction" and will safeguard its legitimate rights, emphasizing that "tariff wars and trade wars have no winners." Other economies doing business with Tehran include Brazil, Turkey, and Russia.

The protests in Iran, which have evolved from grievances over economic hardships to defiant calls for the downfall of the clerical establishment, have been met with a harsh crackdown. Human rights groups report alarming casualty figures, with the Norway-based Iran Human Rights verifying at least 648 deaths. Other reports cite nearly 600 deaths from the US virtual embassy in Iran, while academics suggest the death toll could be as high as 6,000. Additionally, over 10,600 arrests have been reported by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The Iranian government has not released overall casualty figures.

Compounding the difficulty of monitoring the situation, Iran has imposed an extensive internet and phone line blackout, with internet access reportedly dropping to just one percent of typical levels for over 96 hours. Protesters have resorted to alternative communication methods, including using Starlink terminals acquired on the black market and relying on local, word-of-mouth networks. Meanwhile, state-organized pro-government rallies, featuring chants like "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," have been held across Iran to demonstrate support for the regime.

Amidst the turmoil, the US has advised its citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing the dangerous conditions and expected communication outages. Other nations have followed suit, with non-essential French embassy staff evacuating and Sweden issuing an urgent travel advisory. President Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with US military action, including airstrikes, cyber, and psychological operations, if the Islamic Republic uses deadly force against protesters. While diplomacy remains an option, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that airstrikes are among the "many, many options" being considered, indicating a strong leaning towards military intervention.

Iran, an OPEC member that exported products to 147 trading partners in 2022, has maintained that it is keeping communication channels open with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the situation is "under total control," blaming Israel and the US for the violence and insisting on Iran's right to its ballistic missile arsenal for national defense. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued counter-warnings to Trump, even sharing an illustration implying Trump's overthrow, while criticizing American politicians for their "deceit."

The situation has drawn broader international attention, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging world leaders to intervene and help Iranian protesters, stating that changes are possible. Conversely, Russia's Security Council has condemned what it described as foreign interference in Iran's internal affairs, expressing condolences for casualties without elaboration. This crisis unfolds within the context of Trump's broader history of imposing tariffs, a policy currently facing legal challenges at the US Supreme Court.