In brief
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order threatening tariffs on countries trading with Iran, citing national security concerns. The order suggests a 25% tariff on goods from any nation interacting with Iran economically. This follows escalating tensions after recent diplomatic talks and is part of Trump's broader strategy to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.
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 of circumstances change.
It read: The President is holding Iran accountable for its pursuit of nuclear capabilities, support for terrorism, ballistic missile development, and regional destabilisation 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.
Tehran insists this is entirely peaceful and has repeatedly denied accusations by the US and its allies that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Despite sanctions on certain products and industries, there are still more than 100 countries that trade with Iran. Its biggest export partner is China, which bought more than $14bn worth of goods from Iran in the year to October 2025.
