Trump wrote that the tariff policy is 'effective immediately' and described the order as 'final and conclusive.' He did not provide further details about the legal authority under which the tariffs would be imposed nor about whether the policy applies to all Iranian trading partners.
The tariffs would be paid by U.S. importers of goods from countries that continue doing business with Iran, a long‑sanctioned member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Iran exports large quantities of oil and other products, with major trading partners including China, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India.
Beijing strongly criticized the announcement. The Chinese embassy in Washington said it opposed what it called unilateral sanctions and the extension of U.S. jurisdiction beyond its borders, warning that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests.
Officials from Japan and South Korea said they were monitoring the situation closely but did not announce specific actions.
Trump's comments come as Iran experiences significant anti‑government protests, described by rights groups as the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and as Washington weighs how to respond to the unrest. Tehran has indicated it is keeping lines of communication open with the United States even amid heightened tensions.
Rania Umutoni
