By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada. 14/1/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 12th that the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran. As Iranian authorities violently suppress large-scale anti-government protests, with estimates suggesting the death toll could reach thousands, the U.S. has moved to inflict “economic damage” before any “military action.” Iran, for which maintaining the regime has become an urgent task, stated that it is open to nuclear negotiations with the U.S.
Trump had stated the previous day that he received contact from Iranian leadership expressing a desire to resume nuclear negotiations, saying, “We are preparing for talks,” but added, “Due to the current situation, we may act first before the talks commence.” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt met with reporters the same day, emphasizing that a diplomatic solution remains the top priority, while stating, “Airstrikes are also one of the many options available to the top military commander. The President does not hesitate to use military options when deemed necessary, and Iran is well aware of this.” The imposition of “secondary tariffs” on Iran also targets China, the largest importer of Iranian oil. Following the U.S. capture and deportation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on the 3rd, which effectively seized control of Venezuelan crude exports, China now faces variables originating from the U.S. in both Iran and Venezuela, its key energy import sources.
Reuters reported that the U.S. and Iran are engaging in behind-the-scenes communication through Steve Witting, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also acknowledged in an Al Jazeera interview on the 12th that he is in communication with Witting, stating, “We are prepared to engage in nuclear negotiations with the U.S.,” and “We have discussed several proposals with the U.S. and are currently reviewing them.” This is interpreted as Iran presenting the “nuclear negotiations” card to ensure a soft landing for the current situation and preserve the theocratic regime.
However, voices within the U.S. hardline conservative faction are growing louder, calling for the complete collapse of the Iranian regime during this opportunity. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, stated, “Merely expressing solidarity with the Iranian people is insufficient,” adding, “The only correct answer is to demonstrate that we will not tolerate the Iranian leadership’s massacres by taking decisive action.” He continued, “This is the best opportunity since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran to change the course of the Middle East,” and “This will be a decisive turning point in history for President Trump.” Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a senior figure in the conservative camp, also stated, “The goal of all Western leaders should be to dismantle the Iranian dictatorship at this moment when it is most vulnerable.”
HRANA, a U.S.-based human rights activist network, reported that as of the 16th day of the protests on the 12th, 646 people had died, with 579 additional death reports under verification. Reuters, citing an anonymous Iranian official, reported that over 2,000 people have died so far. Some sources suggest the death toll could exceed 12,000.
