Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump announced decisive economic measures on Tuesday targeting nations that continue commercial relations with Iran. In a statement on his social media platform, Trump declared that any country engaging in trade with the Islamic Republic of Iran would face a 25 percent tariff on all business conducted with the United States.
“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. This Order is final and conclusive….” – PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, emphasizing the firmness of the policy.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing unrest in Iran. On December 28, 2025, protests erupted across multiple provinces, beginning with merchants in Tehran’s electronics and mobile phone markets who demonstrated against rising inflation, high living costs, and the devaluation of the Iranian rial. The unrest quickly spread to students and broader segments of the population, with tens of thousands taking to the streets in cities nationwide.
Trump has previously expressed support for the protest movements and warned that the U.S. could consider the use of force if the Iranian government responded violently to demonstrators. Analysts say that the new tariff measures represent a continuation of Washington’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Tehran, designed to isolate the country economically and deter foreign partners from maintaining trade relations.
The economic sanctions are expected to affect nations with significant commercial ties to Iran, potentially reshaping trade patterns and putting diplomatic pressure on both Tehran and its international partners.
