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US President Donald Trump said countries doing business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States.
The warning comes as Iran intensifies its crackdown on anti-government protests, with thousands feared dead.
China is Iran’s largest trading partner, buying more than $14bn worth of Iranian goods in the year to October 2025.
Iraq is Iran’s second-largest export destination, importing goods valued at about $10.5bn.
The United Arab Emirates and Turkey are also major customers, with Iranian exports to Turkey rising sharply last year.
Fuel-related products dominate Iran’s exports, reflecting its position as one of the world’s largest oil producers.
Iran also exports food items such as pistachios and tomatoes but imports far more food staples than it sells abroad.
Food accounts for roughly a third of Iran’s imports, including corn, rice, sunflower products and soybeans.
Gold is Iran’s biggest import, with purchases rising to about $6.7bn in the year to October.
Trump said the tariff would be “effective immediately” and described the decision as “final and conclusive.”
The White House has not yet clarified how the tariff would be enforced or which countries would be affected.
It remains unclear whether the new levy would apply on top of existing US tariffs already imposed under Trump.
Analysts say enforcement could prove difficult, as Iran is believed to export oil using shadow shipping fleets and alternative currencies.
The move risks escalating tensions between the US and China, which already faces high average tariffs on exports to America.
It will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
China warned
Iran’s economy remains under severe strain from sanctions, inflation and falling living standards, fuelling domestic unrest.