At least 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in nationwide unrest, marking the first time authorities have acknowledged such a high death toll from a crackdown that has followed more than two weeks of protests, according to government officials.

The unnamed official blamed what he called “terrorists” for the deaths of both protesters and security forces, but did not provide a breakdown of casualties.

The unrest began on December 28 after the sharp fall in Iran’s currency and worsening economic conditions, and has grown into the biggest internal challenge to Iran’s clerical rulers in at least three years, amid heightened international pressure after Israeli and US strikes last year.

On Monday evening, US President Donald Trump announced 25% import tariffs on products from any country doing business with Iran, saying the levies would apply “immediately” to Iran’s trading partners that also trade with the United States. Tehran has not publicly responded, but China swiftly criticised the move.

Iran exports much of its oil to China, with Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India among its other major trading partners, according to Trading Economics. 

Trump has also said further military action is among the options he is weighing, having previously said the United States was “locked and loaded”.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday he believed Iran’s government would fall, describing what he called the regime’s “final days and weeks”. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed Merz’s remarks, accusing Berlin of double standards and saying the German leader had “obliterated any shred of credibility”.

Despite the scale of unrest and years of external pressure, Reuters reported there were no signs of fracture within Iran’s security elite. Authorities have sought a dual approach, describing protests over economic problems as legitimate while maintaining a harsh security response.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said officials were trying to listen to grievances even as they alleged some had sought to hijack protests. 

Lawmaker Mohammadreza Sabaghian warned the government must address public dissatisfaction or similar events could return “with greater intensity”.

Information has been difficult to verify amid communications restrictions. The UN human rights office said on Tuesday that phone services had been restored, but internet connectivity remained patchy after recent disruptions.

US-based rights group HRANA said that by late Monday 10,721 people had been arrested, a figure Reuters said it could not independently confirm. 

HRANA also reported that families gathered at Tehran’s Behesht Zahra cemetery on Monday, chanting protest slogans.

Iranian officials have said they are keeping communication channels open with Washington. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that while airstrikes were among the options available, “diplomacy is always the first option” for Trump, adding that Iran’s private messages differed from its public stance.

Araghchi said Tehran was studying ideas proposed by Washington but described them as incompatible with US threats. 

He also said communications between him and US special envoy Steve Witkoff continued before and after the protests and remain ongoing.