US President Donald Trump on Monday announced the immediate imposition of a 25% tariff on goods from countries that maintain commercial ties with Iran, a move aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests enter their third week.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the tariff would be “effective immediately,” warning that “any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.” He added that the order was “final and conclusive,” but did not clarify what activities would qualify as “doing business” with Iran.
China is Iran’s largest trading partner, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.
The announcement comes after Trump threatened possible military intervention if Iranian authorities continued to kill protesters. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that military options, including air strikes, remained “on the table.”
The White House has not released further details on the tariffs, including which countries’ exports to the US may be most affected.
Protests erupted in late December over the sharp decline in the value of Iran’s currency, the rial, and have since escalated into a broader crisis of legitimacy for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed so far, though sources cited by the BBC suggest the actual death toll may be significantly higher. Thousands of people have reportedly been arrested.
An internet blackout imposed since Thursday evening has made it difficult to verify information, with the BBC and most other international media unable to report from inside Iran.
Trump also claimed on Sunday that Iranian officials had contacted him to negotiate, but warned that “we may have to act before a meeting.”
Iran’s economy has been under severe strain due to longstanding international sanctions linked to its nuclear programme, compounded by government mismanagement and corruption. The rial has fallen to record lows over the past year, while inflation has surged above 40%, driving up prices of basic goods such as cooking oil and meat.
On December 28, shopkeepers in Tehran joined street protests following another sharp fall in the rial against the US dollar on the open market.
Source: BBC
