President Donald Trump announced Monday an immediate 25 percent tariff on goods from any nation conducting business with Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in U.S. economic pressure on Tehran as the country confronts its largest protests in decades.
The announcement, made via Truth Social, stated the tariff would be applied to any country doing business with Iran and would be effective immediately. The White House declined to provide additional details about implementation or the legal authority being used.
The tariff threatens to disrupt major U.S. trading relationships globally. China, which buys approximately 80 percent of Iran’s oil exports, would face the new duties on top of existing tariffs, potentially bringing Chinese goods to a minimum 45 percent tariff rate. Other significant Iranian trading partners include India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
China’s foreign ministry responded Tuesday, stating the country would firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that tariff wars produce no winners.
The tariff announcement comes amid intensifying tensions between Washington and Tehran. Human rights groups report hundreds of people have been killed during ongoing protests in Iran, while state media said more than 100 security personnel have died. Trump has previously threatened military action if protester killings continue.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in an interview Monday that Iran is prepared for war if the United States wants to test the nation militarily.
The move raises questions about implementation. Trump did not define what constitutes doing business with Iran, and the administration has not clarified whether the tariffs apply only to goods or also to services. The announcement did not specify which legal authority would be invoked, though the president has frequently relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for similar measures.
Several Republican senators, including Thom Tillis of North Carolina, have expressed concern about the administration’s increasing use of tariffs for foreign policy objectives.
