U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that any country doing business with Iran would face tariffs of 25% on all trade with the United States, escalating pressure on Tehran amid unrest inside the Islamic Republic.
“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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “This order is final and conclusive.”
Trump has frequently used tariff threats to pursue foreign policy objectives, though the legality of such measures is under scrutiny, with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected soon.
The announcement came as Trump said Iran had sought negotiations with Washington following his warnings of possible military action over Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests. Activists said on Monday that at least 599 people had been killed in the unrest.
Iran did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks. His comments followed a visit to Tehran over the weekend by Oman’s foreign minister, whose country has long acted as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
It remains unclear what concessions Iran could offer, particularly as Trump has maintained strict demands over Tehran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile arsenal, which Iran says are essential for its defence.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran that the situation was “under total control,” blaming Israel and the United States for the violence without providing evidence.
