Trump's New Tariff Threat on Iran Trade Sparks Global Concerns

Sat Feb 07 2026 19:49:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a bold move, President Trump has issued an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on countries trading with Iran, raising tensions and concerns over global trade dynamics.

President Trump signed an executive order threatening tariffs of up to 25% on countries that engage in trade with Iran, citing national security concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions. This order follows a recent meeting with Iranian officials aimed at de-escalating tensions. Trump's administration continues to hold Iran accountable for its actions, reaffirming existing sanctions and potential repercussions for nations involved in trade with the regime.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran.

The order, issued on Friday, does not specify the rate that could be imposed, but uses 25% as an example. It says the tariff could apply to goods imported into the US from any nation that directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or otherwise acquires any goods or services from Iran.

Trump has not directly commented on the order but reiterated no nuclear weapons for Iran when speaking from Air Force One on Friday night.

It came after talks between senior US and Iranian officials in Oman, following several weeks of threats from both sides.

Trump threatened a 25% tariff of countries doing business with Iran earlier this year in a post to Truth Social.

On 12 January, he wrote: 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. At the time, no further detail was provided on how the tariffs would work in practice.

The White House said that this latest executive order reaffirmed the ongoing national emergency with respect to Iran and noted that the president may modify it if circumstances change.

It read: The President is holding Iran accountable for its pursuit of nuclear capabilities, support for terrorism, ballistic missile development, and regional destabilization that endanger American security, allies, and interests.

Separately, the US State Department announced on Friday that it was sanctioning 15 entities that have traded in Iranian-origin crude oil, petroleum products, or petrochemical products.

There was no immediate comment to either announcement from Iran, which is already subject to extensive sanctions imposed by the US and other Western powers over the country's nuclear program.

Despite sanctions on certain products and industries, there are still more than 100 countries that trade with Iran. Its biggest export partner is China. In the year to October 2025, Beijing bought more than $14bn (£10.4bn) of products from Iran, according to figures from Trade Data Monitor based on official Iranian data.

The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US was represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One, Trump said Friday's talks were very good, and that Iran looks like it wants to make a deal very badly.

Rising tensions between the US and Iran have raised fears of a conflict between the countries, with Trump declaring that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should be very worried as recently as Wednesday.