Iran is facing mounting uncertainty as weeks of unrest and a fierce government crackdown raise fresh doubts about the future of the Islamic Republic.

After enforcing a near-total internet blackout, authorities have made limited concessions. Iranians can now place international calls, but incoming calls from abroad remain blocked. Internet access and text messaging are still largely restricted.

Rights groups and activists say the death toll from the protests has climbed to at least 2,000.

The unrest, which began as protests against soaring prices and economic hardship, has transformed into a direct challenge to the regime itself, with demonstrators openly demanding an end to the system established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

International pressure is also escalating. US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new economic measures, including a 25 percent tariff on countries that continue trading with Iran. Posting on social media, Trump told Iranian protesters that “help is on its way,” while confirming that any potential talks with Tehran have been cancelled amid the ongoing crackdown.

Europe has hardened its stance as well. The European Union says it is preparing additional sanctions, and the European Parliament has barred Iranian diplomats from entering its buildings.

Tehran has hit back, summoning European diplomats and accusing Western governments of stoking unrest inside Iran.

Speaking during a visit to India, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran’s leadership is “living its last days,” arguing that it has lost the confidence of its own people.

With protests showing no sign of slowing, analysts say Iran’s rulers are confronting one of the gravest challenges to their authority in decades, and the path ahead remains deeply uncertain.