What if your next import from China or India suddenly cost 25% more—just for doing business with Iran? That’s President Trump’s fresh ultimatum, dropped on Truth Social amid Iran’s massive anti-government protests: “Effective immediately, any country trading with the Islamic Republic faces a 25% tariff on all U.S. business.” No fine print, no White House docs yet—it’s “final and conclusive,” he says.
This lands as Tehran grapples with its biggest uprising in decades, sparked by economic woes but now chanting for the clerical regime downfall (HRANA reports 599 deaths since Dec. 28). Trump’s juggling diplomacy talks, opposition contacts, and military threats—after last year’s Israel war and U.S. strikes on Iranian nukes. White House insists diplomacy first, but tariffs are his classic pressure play.
China’s fired back hard: “Tariff wars have no winners,” their embassy warns on X, vowing countermeasures. Japan and South Korea are watching closely, ready to respond. With Iran shipping oil to 147 partners (China tops the list), this could ripple worldwide—especially as Trump’s tariff empire faces Supreme Court heat.
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