ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp escalation of economic pressure on Iran, warning that any country doing business with Tehran would face a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States, effective immediately.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump described the decision as “final and conclusive,” framing it as an effort to economically isolate Iran as anti-government protests enter their third week, driven by currency collapse and soaring inflation.
The announcement coincided with large pro-government rallies across Iran, where state media reported tens of thousands of supporters marching in Tehran and other cities, chanting slogans against the United States and Israel.
President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi joined the demonstrations, signaling unity among the leadership. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the turnout as a “warning” to Washington, portraying the unrest as foreign-orchestrated violence that had been defeated.
Iran responded angrily to Western expressions of support for protesters. The Foreign Ministry summoned ambassadors from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, presenting footage it said showed protester violence and demanding that governments retract statements backing the demonstrations.
Araghchi accused Washington of blatant interference and alleged U.S. and Israeli involvement in fueling unrest, while insisting Iran remains open to “war or dialogue” but not under pressure. Tehran has also blamed international media coverage for inciting violence, amid reports from rights groups of more than 600 protester deaths and thousands of arrests.
The latest U.S. move comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions since the 12-day war in June 2025, when Israel, with eventual U.S. backing, struck Iranian nuclear and military facilities allegedly to curb Tehran’s atomic program. Although the conflict ended without regime change, it caused significant damage to Iran’s infrastructure and weakened its regional allies.
The current unrest, which began as protests over economic hardship, has evolved into broader demands against the regime. Trump’s tariff threat could strain U.S. relations with key Iranian trading partners such as China and India, while increasing the risk of wider economic and diplomatic fallout as Tehran vows to withstand external pressure.
