Threat of sanctions against Tehran’s trading partners; Death toll rises as crackdown sparks global alarm
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with oil industry executives at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., January 9, 2026. PHOTO: Reuters
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN:
US President Donald Trump sharply stepped up pressure on Iran, calling on protesters on Monday evening to continue demonstrating, saying “help is on the way”, threatening drastic trade sanctions against countries doing business with Tehran and keeping military action firmly on the table.
The US president, who said an Iranian official had been contacted for negotiations, canceled the meetings, while a US-based rights group said at least 1,850 protesters had been killed in more than two weeks of demonstrations. in Iran, an official estimates the death toll at around 2,000.
In messages posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump addressed what he called “Iranian patriots,” telling them to “KEEP PROTEST – TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR INSTITUTIONS,” while asserting that “help is on the way,” without specifying whether that help would involve direct U.S. intervention.
Trump said he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until what he described as the “senseless killing” of protesters stopped, adding that Tehran had crossed its red line and Washington may have to act before negotiations could take place.
He announced a 25% tariff on any country doing trade with Iran, warning that the measure would apply to “all business” with the United States and calling the order “final and conclusive,” a move aimed at Iran’s main partners including China, Turkey, Iraq and others.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said airstrikes were among several options available to Trump, emphasizing that diplomacy remained the first choice even as Tehran maintained private contacts with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff despite the lack of formal relations.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused foreign powers of supporting the unrest. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that communication channels with the United States remained open, saying Tehran was studying Washington’s proposals.
Meanwhile, protests raged across the country. An Iranian official told Reuters that around 2,000 people, including civilians and members of the security forces, were killed in the unrest, which authorities blamed on “terrorists.”
Rights groups, however, have reported hundreds of deaths among protesters since protests began in late December. Norway-based Iran Human Rights said at least 648 people, including nine minors, were killed. Some estimates exceed 6,000 deaths and around 10,000 arrests.
Iranian authorities have sought to exert control by holding pro-government rallies across the country, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying Iran was facing economic, psychological and military pressure, as activists reported a near-total internet shutdown.
International pressure also intensified when EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said additional sanctions were under discussion, while Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Finland and Spain summoned Iranian ambassadors over what they called an excessive and brutal crackdown.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran’s leaders appeared to be living their “last days and weeks” if they relied solely on violence, as France confirmed the departure of non-essential embassy staff and UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by the bloodshed.
China condemned what it called illicit unilateral sanctions, warning that tariff wars had no winners and vowing to protect its interests, while Russia warned against outside interference and Qatar warned that any military escalation between the United States and Iran would have catastrophic regional consequences.
Despite Tehran’s insistence that order be restored, the combination of rising death tolls, economic pressure, diplomatic isolation and Trump’s increasingly confrontational posture has left Iran facing one of the most serious political crises in decades.
