Khaberni - As protests continue in Iran's major cities today (Tuesday), an Iranian official revealed about 2000 deaths including security personnel during the demonstrations now entering their third week.
Restoration of Communications and Departure of Nationals
Several countries, including the United States, have advised their citizens to leave Iran. The United States has urged its dual nationality citizens to depart immediately, and announced the restoration of international telephone communications with Iran.
The U.S. State Department warned that Americans in Iran face significant risks of interrogation, arrest, and detention, and advised them to travel by land to neighboring Armenia or Turkey, or to Azerbaijan if urgent. Sweden, Australia, Poland, and India have joined this call.
Western media sources have reported that non-essential diplomatic staff from the French embassy in Tehran have left the country.
Threat of Imposing Tariffs
Mobile phones in Iran have started to regain the ability to make international calls, after the internet service was cut in the past days. However, the country has been deprived of internet service since January 8, according to the non-governmental organization «NetBlocks».
Iran announced that it keeps communication channels open with the United States.
President Donald Trump announced on Monday evening that any country conducting trade with Iran, a major oil producer, will face new tariffs of 25% on its exports to the United States.
Trump added in a post on social media «This is final and decisive», without providing details on the legal basis for imposing the tariffs, or whether it will target all of Iran's trading partners.
Trump warned Iran that Washington would launch an attack if security forces fired on protesters. White House spokeswoman Carolyna Levitt told reporters on Monday that «diplomacy is always the president's first option», but he is considering several alternatives, including airstrikes.
