President Trump on Monday announced a 25% tariff on all goods from countries engaging in trade with Iran, a move aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran amid ongoing anti-government protests.
The tariffs are effective immediately, Trump wrote on Truth Social, applying to “any and all business being done with the United States of America.”
The specific countries affected were not identified. Iran maintains significant trade relationships with China and the United Arab Emirates. China imported approximately $22.4 billion in Iranian goods in 2022, according to World Bank data, and continues to purchase Iranian oil despite existing U.S. sanctions, a CBS News investigation noted.
China is also the United States’ third-largest trade partner. In 2024, Americans imported $438.9 billion in Chinese goods, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Iran also imported around $18 billion in goods from the United Arab Emirates in 2022. The UAE hosts thousands of U.S. military personnel and is considered a key regional security partner.
Trade between Iran and the United States remains minimal due to longstanding U.S. sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear program. The new tariffs mark a further step in restricting Iran’s access to the global economy.
The announcement comes as Iran experiences its largest wave of anti-government protests in years, partly driven by economic hardship. More than 500 people have been reported killed in the unrest, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Trump has said he would consider action if Iranian authorities escalate the crackdown. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” he told reporters Sunday. “We’ll make a determination.”
A U.S. official told CBS News that Trump has been briefed on possible military responses in Iran.
