Trump imposing 25% tariffs on Iran trade partners. What we know
FILE-President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a "Make America Wealthy Again" trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump is imposing 25% tariffs against countries that are trade partners with Iran amid a warning he’s made to Tehran related to using force to contain ongoing protests.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Jan. 12 that "Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The White House has not yet released any information about the new tariff policy or how it may work.
Which trade partners of Iran are facing 25% tariffs?
Dig deeper:
Tehran conducts business with multiple countries that could possibly be impacted by these tariffs, some are listed below:
- China
- United Arab Emirates
- Turkey
- Brazil
- Russia
- India
- Germany
- Japan
- South Korea
On Jan. 11, Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran climbed and the government continues to arrest protesters.
Meanwhile, Iran warned on Jan. 11 that the U.S. military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if the U.S. uses force to protect demonstrators.
Iran protests
Big picture view:
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran soared Tuesday to at least 2,000 people killed, activists told the Associated Press.
President Donald Trump has warned that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters" the U.S. "will come to their rescue."
After the new death toll became public, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform: "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!"
Trump added: "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
The demonstrations began Dec. 28 anger over Iran's ailing economy and later targeted the country’s theocracy and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a Trump Truth Social post, Reuters, and the Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.