The White House is taking a tougher step against Iran’s global trade network. On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that opens the door for new tariffs on any country that continues doing business with Iran. The move comes at a time when pressure between Washington and Tehran is already running high.
The order, which takes effect Saturday, allows the US government to place tariffs on goods coming from nations that buy or receive Iranian products or services. Trump has already warned that these tariffs could reach 25 percent, and the final rate will be set by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
If implemented, the tariffs could hit major economic partners like China, Russia, Germany, Turkey, and the UAE. Iran’s largest trading partner is China, which imported around $18 billion in goods from Iran and exported roughly $14.5 billion in 2024, according to World Trade Organization figures.
This latest decision dropped just hours after indirect talks between Washington and Tehran were held in Oman. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, said the two sides had “very good talks” and that another meeting is planned for early next week.
The renewed dialogue is notable because the US and Iran have had almost no direct communication since diplomatic ties collapsed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Recent years have been marked by conflict, including US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last June.
Inside Iran, the situation remains tense. The country has been under a strict internet blackout as authorities crack down on nationwide economic protests. A US-based human rights group reported that thousands of people have been killed since the unrest began, alongside members of the security forces and civilians caught in the violence.
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