US President Donald Trump on Monday declared that any country maintaining commercial ties with Iran will face a 25 percent tariff on all trade with the United States, a move that could broaden economic pressure on major trading partners such as India, China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Trump announced the policy in a post on his social media platform, saying it would take effect “effective immediately” and calling it “final and conclusive,” but offered no further details on implementation or exemptions.
In his Truth Social message, Trump said countries doing business with the Islamic Republic would now be subject to a blanket 25 percent duty on any goods entering the US market. The announcement comes amid Iran’s largest anti-government protests in decades and as Washington considers its broader response to the unrest.
The threat could have significant implications for global trade, with India among Iran’s key economic partners in sectors such as energy and commodities. Analysts say the tariffs could raise costs for exporters and complicate ongoing trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington.
At this stage, official documentation outlining the legal basis for the tariff or the criteria for determining who qualifies as “doing business” with Iran has not been published by the White House.
Tehran said on Monday that it is keeping communication channels open with Washington as the US president considers his next steps.
Protests in Iran, which began on December 28 over economic hardship, have since turned into open calls for the overthrow of the ruling clerical establishment. US-based rights group HRANA said it has verified 599 deaths so far, including 510 protesters and 89 members of the security forces.