President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on any country that continues to do business with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a move that could significantly disrupt global trade and strain diplomatic relations with major U.S. partners.
Trump made the announcement on Monday via his social media platform, Truth Social, declaring that the tariff would take effect “immediately” and apply to “any and all business being done with the United States of America” by countries that maintain commercial ties with Tehran. He described the decision as “final and conclusive.”
However, as of late Monday, the White House had not issued an executive order or provided any formal legal framework to support the proposed tariff. A White House spokesperson also did not respond to requests for clarification, raising questions about how and when the policy would be implemented.
The threat comes amid escalating unrest in Iran, where widespread anti-government protests have intensified in recent days. Human rights groups report that hundreds of people have been killed in a violent crackdown by Iranian security forces. Trump has previously warned that the United States could intervene if the Iranian government continues to use force against protesters.
Analysts say the proposed tariff represents a significant escalation in Washington’s economic pressure, not just on Iran, but on countries that trade with it. Nations likely to be affected include China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and members of the European Union, all of which maintain varying levels of commercial engagement with Tehran.
While the United States has minimal direct trade with Iran due to longstanding sanctions over its nuclear programme, it conducts substantial trade with several of Iran’s key economic partners. If enforced, the tariff could increase the cost of imports from those countries and complicate existing trade agreements.
Foreign policy experts have also questioned the effectiveness of the threat, noting that the U.S. already has some of the toughest sanctions in place against Iran, though enforcement has been inconsistent. Iran continues to export oil and other goods to global buyers, prompting doubts about whether a new tariff regime would be meaningfully enforced.
The broad scope of Trump’s announcement has sparked concern among international leaders and market observers, who are now watching closely for further guidance from Washington. Until formal measures are announced, uncertainty remains over the legal authority, enforcement mechanisms and diplomatic consequences of the proposed tariff.
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