Trump tightens the noose on Iran by threatening its trading partners

13th January 2026

3 minutes read

Trump tightens the noose on Iran by threatening its trading partners

The US president said that any country engaging in trade with Iran would be subject to 25 percent tariffs on all transactions with the United States, in an effort to increase pressure on Iran’s already struggling economy.

Donald Trump stated that any nation trading with Iran would face 25 percent tariffs on all dealings with the United States, at a time when Washington is considering how to respond to the situation in Iran, which is witnessing the largest anti-government protests in years.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he added: “Effective immediately, any country that trades with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a 25 percent tariff on all transactions with the United States.”

These tariffs would be paid by US importers of goods from those countries. Iran has been under strict US sanctions for years. Without providing further details, Trump said, “This is final and unequivocal.” China, the United Arab Emirates and India are among the main destinations for Iranian exports.

No official documents outlining this policy have been published on the White House website, nor has any information been released regarding the legal basis on which Trump would rely to impose the tariffs, or whether they would apply to all of Iran’s trading partners.

China’s embassy in Washington criticized the president’s approach, stating that Beijing would take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests, and opposing “any unlawful unilateral sanctions that go beyond legal boundaries.”

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said: “China’s opposition to the arbitrary imposition of tariffs is firm and clear. Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure do not solve problems.” Japan and South Korea, which signed trade agreements with the United States last year, said on Tuesday that they are closely monitoring developments.

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade said in a statement: “We intend to take any necessary measures as soon as the specific actions of the US government become clear.”

Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Masanao Ozaki, told reporters that Tokyo “will carefully examine the content of any measures once they are clarified, as well as their potential impact on Japan, and will respond appropriately.”

Last year, Iran fought a 12-day war with Israel, a US ally, during which American forces bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. The Islamic Republic is currently experiencing its largest anti-government demonstrations in years.

Trump said the United States could meet with Iranian officials and that he is in contact with the Iranian opposition, while continuing to pressure Iran’s leadership, including by threatening military action.

On Monday, Tehran said it would keep channels of communication open with Washington as the US president considers how to respond to the situation in Iran, which has become one of the most serious tests of clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing US officials, that several senior members of the Trump administration, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, are urging Trump to try diplomacy before launching attacks on Iran.

William Martin, communications director for the vice president, said: “Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio jointly present the president with a range of options, from diplomatic approaches to military operations. These options are offered without bias or favoritism.”

Throughout 2025, Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs on other countries over their ties with US adversaries or over trade policies he described as unfair to Washington, and he has already acted on those threats.

Trump’s trade policy is also facing legal pressure, as the US Supreme Court is considering overturning a wide range of tariffs imposed by the president. According to the latest World Bank data, Iran exported goods to 147 trading partners in 2022.