Donald Trump announced that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25 percent tariff on all trade with the United States, escalating economic pressure as Iran faces its largest anti-government protests in years.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the tariff would apply immediately and warned that any nation trading with the Islamic Republic would be penalised on all business conducted with the US. He gave no legal or administrative details, and no formal White House documentation was issued. The White House declined to comment. The tariffs would be paid by US importers of goods from affected countries. Iran’s main export destinations include China, the United Arab Emirates and India.
China reacted by condemning what it called unilateral and illegal sanctions, saying it would take necessary measures to protect its interests and warning that tariff wars have no winners.
The announcement comes as Iran experiences widespread unrest following a deepening economic crisis and political repression. The protests, which began over living conditions, have grown into open calls for the fall of the clerical leadership. The government has responded with mass arrests, internet shutdowns and warnings that protesters could face the death penalty.
Human rights groups say the crackdown has been deadly. Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, has confirmed at least 648 people killed. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported more than 10,600 arrests. Footage circulating online has shown rows of bodies outside Tehran’s morgue. Iran has not released official casualty figures.
A heavily damaged government building in Tehran, Iran. Photograph: Getty Images
The Trump administration is weighing its response. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said airstrikes were among many options under consideration, though diplomacy remained the president’s first choice. Tehran said it was keeping communication channels open with Washington.
Trump has also said he is in contact with Iranian opposition figures and may meet Iranian officials, while continuing to threaten military action.
The situation has also prompted diplomatic moves. Non-essential staff from the French embassy have reportedly left Iran, citing safety concerns.
The tariff threat comes as Trump’s broader trade strategy faces a major legal test in the US Supreme Court, which is considering whether to strike down a wide range of his existing tariffs. Trump warned that overturning them would cause a complete economic mess, claiming it would take years to untangle refunds and obligations.
Iran, a member of OPEC, exported goods to 147 countries in 2022, according to World Bank data, making Trump’s tariff threat potentially far-reaching for global trade.
