US imposes 25% tariff, deepening pressure on Iran allies
The death toll figures were reported by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, highlighting the grave human cost of unrest.
The United States has sharply escalated economic pressure on Iran, announcing that any country doing business with Tehran will face a 25 per cent tariff, even as the human cost of Iran’s nationwide protests continues to rise at an alarming pace. The move, revealed on Tuesday, January 13, comes against the backdrop of deepening unrest inside Iran, where activists say at least 646 people have been killed in just over two weeks of demonstrations.
In a post on X, the White House said the new tariff policy is aimed at tightening the economic squeeze on the Islamic republic. The decision reflects Washington’s increasingly hardline approach, signalling that the cost of engaging economically with Iran will now extend beyond Tehran itself and directly affect its international partners.
At the same time, grim updates continue to emerge from within Iran. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the death toll from the protests has reached at least 646 people, a figure expected to rise further as information continues to trickle out of the country. The group has built a reputation for accuracy over multiple years of unrest, relying on a network of activists inside Iran who verify reports and crosscheck fatalities.
The agency said that among those killed, 490 were protesters, while 48 were members of Iran’s security forces. In addition, more than 10,600 people have reportedly been detained during the two weeks of protests, underscoring the scale of the crackdown. These figures paint a picture of a nation in deep crisis, with thousands of families affected by arrests, injuries, and deaths.
Independent verification of these numbers remains extremely difficult. With internet access largely shut down and phone lines cut off across much of Iran, foreign media outlets have struggled to assess the situation on the ground. The Associated Press has said it has been unable to independently confirm the toll provided by activists. Iran’s government, meanwhile, has not released official casualty figures, leaving the true scale of the violence shrouded in uncertainty.
The protests themselves began as demonstrations against soaring prices and worsening economic conditions, but quickly evolved into broader expressions of anger against Iran’s clerical leadership. What started as economic frustration has transformed into a direct challenge to a system that has governed the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. For many Iranians, the demonstrations represent not just protest, but desperation.
Amid this turmoil, President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has reached out to the United States to propose negotiations. He said Tehran sought talks after he threatened action in response to the crackdown on protesters. The claim adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation, as Washington signals both a willingness to talk and a readiness to intensify pressure through economic and potentially military means.
Inside Iran, the political response has been defiant. During a parliamentary speech, Mohammad Baagher Qalibaf, the hardline speaker of parliament and a former presidential candidate, issued a stark warning to Washington and Israel. Referring to Israel as “the occupied territory,” Qalibaf said that any attack on Iran would be met with retaliation against both Israel and American military assets across the region.
Despite the fierce rhetoric, questions remain about Iran’s actual capacity and willingness to launch a broader military confrontation. Analysts note that Iran’s air defences were significantly damaged during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June, potentially limiting its ability to respond to large-scale strikes. Any decision to escalate into open war would ultimately rest with Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The US military has stated that its forces in the Middle East are “postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability” to defend American interests, partners, and allies. Recent months have already seen dangerous flashpoints, including Iran targeting US forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in June. Meanwhile, the US Navy’s 5th Fleet remains stationed in Bahrain, underscoring the heavy American military presence in the region.
As tariffs rise, rhetoric hardens, and protests continue, ordinary Iranians remain at the centre of the crisis. Cut off from the world, facing arrests and violence, and struggling under economic strain, they are paying the highest price. The coming days will likely determine whether pressure gives way to dialogue—or whether the situation spirals into even greater instability, with consequences that extend far beyond Iran’s borders.