Washington: US President Donald Trump announced a major escalation in economic pressure on Iran, declaring that any country maintaining commercial ties with Tehran will face a 25 per cent tariff on all trade conducted with the United States.
The announcement was made through Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he said the measure takes effect immediately and leaves no room for revision. According to the post, nations that continue business dealings with the Islamic Republic of Iran will be subject to the tariff across all sectors of their trade with the US.
The decision marks one of the most sweeping trade penalties linked to Iran in recent years and signals a tougher stance from Washington amid growing unrest inside the country.
Support for the move quickly emerged from Republican lawmakers. Senator Lindsey Graham commended Trump’s approach, describing it as a strong effort to economically isolate Iran’s leadership. In a post on X, Graham said the decision sent a clear warning to Tehran and praised the administration for backing protesters and condemning what he described as violent crackdowns by the Iranian authorities. He went further to suggest that Iran’s leadership had crossed critical thresholds, calling for firm action while ruling out ground troop deployment.
The tariff announcement comes at a time of heightened tension within Iran. According to Iranian state-affiliated broadcaster Press TV, large public gatherings have been reported in several regions, including Azerbaijan province and the central city of Arak. Demonstrators were seen waving flags and chanting slogans, reflecting deep divisions as the country grapples with inflation, economic strain and public dissatisfaction with governance.
Human rights groups paint a grim picture of the unrest. The Human Rights News Agency has reported that at least 544 people have died during the protests, while more than 10,600 individuals have been detained and transferred to prisons nationwide.
A day before announcing the tariffs, Trump indicated that the US might be compelled to take action against Iran if the situation continues to deteriorate. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he revealed that Iranian officials had recently contacted Washington in an effort to open negotiations.
When asked directly whether Tehran was seeking talks, Trump responded that Iranian leaders had reached out and appeared eager to engage diplomatically. He suggested the outreach reflected mounting pressure on Iran, saying its leadership was weary of sustained US pressure.
Trump also noted that preliminary discussions about a possible meeting were underway, but warned that rapidly changing conditions inside Iran could alter the course of events before any dialogue takes place.
The new tariff policy is expected to have wide-ranging implications for countries with economic links to Iran, potentially reshaping trade relationships as Washington tightens its economic net around Tehran.
