Why has Trump announced 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran?

US President Donald Trump made a new statement to put pressure on Iran and said that a 25 percent customs duty would be imposed on countries doing business with Iran. This means that countries trading with Iran will have to pay an additional 25 percent customs duty if they also trade with the United States.

Trump announced on Truth Social that this decision will be implemented immediately, without any additional time. However, the White House has not yet published an official document regarding this tariff. The purpose of this decision is to deter countries around the world from doing business with Iran. If Iran cannot export its oil and other goods, this will affect the government’s income and the economic situation will worsen. Moreover, if Iran cannot import basic goods, the people will intensify their protests against the government.

Trump’s decision is especially significant because the protests in Iran began for economic reasons. If this decision negatively affects Iran’s trade, it will likely further increase public anger. The United States has already imposed various sanctions on Iranian trade, limiting Iran’s global trade. Despite this, Iran does business with 147 countries around the world. This means that the US decision will affect these 147 countries.

According to World Bank data for 2022, China is Iran’s largest trading partner in terms of both imports and exports, with total trade of approximately US$37 billion. Iran’s second largest trade partner is the UAE, and trade between the two countries reached $30 billion in 2022. Another important trade partner of Iran is Turkey, with which it will carry out trade worth 10 billion dollars in 2022.

Trump’s decision will have the biggest impact on China. By one estimate, more than 80 percent of Iran’s oil exports go to China. That’s why China reacted harshly as soon as Trump announced the tariffs.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would resolutely defend their rights. China also stated that there is no winner in a tariff or trade war and that the US decision is against international rules. China has also threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs. This decision by Trump may reignite the trade war between the USA and China.

Trump’s decision came shortly after Indian ambassador Sergio Gor made enthusiastic statements about the friendship between the two countries. But far from a trade deal, Trump announced yet another tariff. It is stated that this tariff may also apply to India due to commercial relations between Delhi and Tehran.

This will make India’s exports to the US more expensive. In this case, India may have to stop trade with Iran. It is also worth noting that trade between India and Iran has decreased significantly in recent years. While trade between India and Iran was $14 billion in 2022, it dropped to $1.68 billion in 2025.