The United States has announced that any country engaging in business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade with the US, effective immediately. This move comes as Washington considers its response to the ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, which have been the largest in years.
In a statement on Truth Social, President Donald Trump stated that any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will be subject to the tariff. The tariffs will be paid by US importers of goods from those countries. Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has been heavily sanctioned by the US for years and exports a significant portion of its oil to countries such as China.
The Chinese embassy in Washington has criticized Trump’s approach, stating that China will take necessary measures to safeguard its interests and opposes any unilateral sanctions. Other countries, including Japan and South Korea, which have trade deals with the US, are closely monitoring the situation and plan to take necessary measures once the specifics of the US actions become clear.
The US has been increasing pressure on Iran, which has seen significant anti-government demonstrations since December 28. The protests initially began as complaints about economic hardships but have evolved into calls for the removal of the clerical establishment. According to US-based rights group HRANA, at least 599 people have been killed in the protests, including 510 protesters and 89 security personnel.
The US has considered various options in response to the situation in Iran, including diplomacy and potential military action. The White House has stated that diplomacy is always the first option, but Trump has often threatened and imposed tariffs on countries over their ties with US adversaries and trade policies.
Iran exported products to 147 trading partners in 2022, according to the World Bank. The US Supreme Court is currently considering a case that could strike down some of Trump’s existing tariffs, which could have implications for the new tariff on countries doing business with Iran. The situation is being closely watched by the international community, and the next steps taken by the US and its allies could have significant implications for global trade and diplomacy.
