Trump Threatens Tariffs for Countries Trading With Iran

The Biden administration may be long gone, but international tensions over Iran continue to shape U.S. foreign policy in early 2026 — now under former President Donald Trump’s White House. In a controversial move that could significantly impact global trade, Trump has signed an executive order establishing a framework to impose tariffs on foreign countries that maintain commercial relationships with Iran, escalating economic pressure in a broader strategy to influence Tehran’s behaviour.
Business Recorder
The executive order, issued on February 6, authorizes U.S. officials to levy additional tariffs — potentially at levels of up to 25% — on imports from countries that “directly or indirectly purchase, import, or otherwise acquire any goods or services from Iran.” It represents one of the most expansive attempts yet by Washington to extend economic coercion beyond traditional sanctions. �
Business Recorder
A New Economic Lever Against Tehran
Trump’s threat to impose tariffs follows his earlier public declaration that “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,” a statement he posted on social media in January. While that announcement lacked official legal underpinning at the time, the new executive order establishes a formal process for identifying affected countries and determining how tariffs will be applied.
CitiNewsroom.com
The order instructs the U.S. Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security, to determine whether a foreign government’s commercial engagement with Iran qualifies it for additional duties. The tariffs would be layered on top of regular U.S. import taxes and could affect a broad range of products. �
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Who Could Be Affected?
The potential reach of the tariffs is significant. Iran’s trading partners include major economies such as China, which accounted for a large share of Iranian trade, as well as other nations including India, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia. If enforced, tariffs on imports from these countries could disrupt already complex global supply chains and raise costs for U.S. importers and consumers. �
The Guardian +1
China, Iran’s biggest trading partner, would face particular scrutiny. Beijing handles billions of dollars in Iranian oil and other commerce each year. A 25% tariff on Chinese imports tied to Tehran trade could push effective tariff rates far higher, undermining recent détente efforts and trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing.
The Guardian
Countries like India and the UAE, which maintain active trade with Iran, have publicly sought clarification from the U.S. government on how the tariff policy would be implemented, emphasizing the need for predictability in international commerce.
Reuters
Trump’s Strategic Calculus
The timing of the tariff threat reflects a complex geopolitical backdrop. Washington has ramped up pressure on Tehran amid ongoing nuclear concerns, regional conflicts, and domestic unrest in Iran. At the same time, U.S. and Iranian officials have engaged in indirect nuclear talks in Oman — the first substantive discussions since significant escalations last year. The tariff order, issued around the same time as those talks, underscores the administration’s dual approach of combining pressure with dialogue.
CitiNewsroom.com
Administration officials describe the tariffs as another tool to coerce Iran’s trading partners into reducing economic ties with Tehran, thereby depriving the Iranian government of foreign revenue. They argue that existing sanctions have been insufficient to change Iran’s conduct on nuclear development and support for regional militias.
CitiNewsroom.com
Global Reactions and Risks
Reactions to the policy have been swift. China has already voiced strong opposition, with its foreign ministry warning that “tariff wars and trade wars have no winners” and stressing that unilateral measures undermine the rules-based global trading system. Other nations potentially targeted have expressed similar concerns over the legality, fairness, and economic impact of such measures.
The Guardian
Experts have warned that expanding tariffs in this way could destabilize global markets and provoke retaliation. Countries slapped with duties may respond with counter-tariffs against U.S. exports, sparking broader trade conflicts at a time when the world economy is grappling with inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions.
The legal basis for imposing such penalties under international trade rules remains uncertain. Under World Trade Organization agreements, discriminatory tariffs targeting specific countries’ external relations could be challenged by affected states as violating global trade norms.
Domestic and Economic Consequences
Domestically, the tariff policy could have mixed impacts. U.S. importers reliant on goods from affected countries may see costs rise, potentially passing higher prices onto consumers. Some sectors that depend on foreign components could face competitive disadvantages, complicating economic forecasting and planning.
Critics also argue that the White House’s aggressive trade posture risks alienating allies and undermining long-term diplomatic cooperation on issues such as security, climate change, and technology governance.
Looking Ahead
As the tariff framework moves toward implementation, Washington faces a delicate balance between exerting pressure on Iran and managing fallout from affected trade partners. How and when tariffs will be applied remains unclear, with officials suggesting that decisions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Whether this strategy will succeed in isolating Iran further — or instead inflame trade tensions among major economies — will become clearer in the coming months as the policy is tested on the global stage.