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Donald Trump said countries doing business with Iran would be subjected to a 25 per cent tariff on trade with the US, a move that could hit big economies such as China and India.
The tariffs would apply “Effective immediately” on “any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran”, the US president said in a Truth Social post on Monday.
The announcement came a day after Trump said he was considering military operations in Iran and warned that the Islamic republic was starting to cross his threshold for intervention, as the death toll from an intensifying crackdown on nationwide protests rose.
According to Trade Data Monitor, which collects customs data, more than 100 countries traded with Iran on some level in the first half of 2025 and could be affected. However, commercial ties between Iran and many countries have been curbed by heavy US sanctions on Tehran.
China, Turkey, Pakistan and India were among Iran’s largest trading partners, the data showed.
The White House declined to offer more details about Trump’s proposed tariffs on Iran’s commercial partners.
China’s embassy in the US said it “firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction”.
“Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems,” said Liu Pengyu, the embassy spokesperson.
Trump has stepped up pressure on Tehran, which is facing widespread unrest. Thousands of people have been detained in nationwide protests in Iran since late December, according to activist groups, who estimate that between 200 and 500 people have been killed.
It has not been possible to verify the reports as Iran’s leaders have imposed an internet blackout since Thursday.
Trump on Sunday said he was considering military operations and warned that the Islamic republic was “starting” to cross his red line for intervention.
The US president has repeatedly said he would “rescue” Iranians if the government began killing protesters.
White House officials are also weighing non-military options to hurt the Iranian regime.
Asked aboard Air Force One on Sunday whether he was considering military intervention, Trump said the military “is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options”.
The warning comes a little more than a week after the US launched strikes on Caracas and captured Venezuelan strongman leader Nicolás Maduro, an audacious move that served as a reminder of Trump’s willingness to use American military power to achieve his foreign policy goals.
With additional contributions from Cheng Leng in Beijing
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