WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said the United States will hit any country that does business with Iran with a sweeping new trade penalty as Tehran’s security forces intensify a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, Jan. 13, 2026.
In a social media post, Trump said the Trump 25% tariff would apply to “any and all” trade with the United States for countries that continue commercial ties with Iran, framing the move as a pressure tactic while his administration also weighs military and diplomatic steps to curb further bloodshed.
Trump 25% tariff puts Iran’s trading partners on notice
The tariff threat—announced without immediate details on scope, timing mechanics or legal authority—could collide with major U.S. trading relationships because Iran maintains trade links with countries including China, India and several regional neighbors. Trump’s message left open whether the measure would stack on top of existing duties or be tailored by sector.
Reporting on the announcement underscored that the White House did not immediately release a formal order alongside the post, raising questions about how U.S. agencies would implement a policy that effectively penalizes third countries for doing business with Tehran. Reuters’ account of the tariff declaration described the move as part of a broader pressure campaign as unrest spreads across Iran.
U.S. weighs “decisive options” as Iran’s death toll climbs
Rights groups and monitors say hundreds of people have been killed in clashes and security operations since protests erupted, while Iran has not provided a comprehensive official toll. A separate Reuters report citing a rights-group tally said the death count had surpassed 500 and that arrests had reached into the thousands, figures that international journalists have said they cannot independently verify because of restrictions on communications.
U.S. officials have publicly warned Tehran against escalating violence. ABC News reported that Trump is expected to consult national security advisers about possible next steps as the administration weighs responses ranging from heightened pressure to more forceful measures.
Journalists covering the unrest have also stressed the difficulty of confirming casualty totals amid internet disruptions and limits on access. The Associated Press detailed its approach to assessing protest-related deaths, including reliance on vetted activist networks and verification of video evidence when possible.
Tehran says talks channel remains open despite Trump 25% tariff warning
Iran’s government has accused foreign powers of fueling unrest and has defended security actions as necessary to restore order. At the same time, Tehran has said communication channels with Washington remain open through intermediaries, even as it warns that outside interference would provoke a sharp response.
The dual-track messaging—talks on the one hand, threats on the other—mirrors patterns seen in earlier flashpoints. During Trump’s first term, he repeatedly used tariff escalation as leverage in nontrade disputes, including a 2019 threat to raise Mexico tariffs as high as 25% and the 2018 decision to impose a 25% tariff on imported steel, both of which had broad spillover effects across supply chains.
Iran, meanwhile, has faced recurring cycles of unrest and harsh crackdowns, including a Reuters special report on the 2019 fuel-price protests and a 2023 account of tightened security around the Mahsa Amini anniversary.
For now, diplomats and businesses are watching for clarity on how the Trump 25% tariff would be enforced, whether U.S. allies seek exemptions, and whether Tehran’s claim of an open negotiating channel can survive rising pressure as the crackdown continues.
