President Donald Trump said any country that does business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on “any and all” business it does with the United States, and said the move would take effect immediately.
China pushed back after the announcement, saying tariff wars have no winners and vowing to protect its lawful interests.
Trump’s statement, posted on his social media platform Truth Social, described the order as “final and conclusive,” but did not specify which countries would be targeted.
What Trump announced
Trump’s post said the United States would impose a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran, linking the measure to Iran’s trade partners that also do business with the US.
Dawn reported that Trump said the tariff would “immediately” impact those trade partners, though he did not clarify which nations would be affected.
Anadolu Agency also reported Trump’s wording as applying to “any and all” countries doing business with Iran and described the tariff as taking effect immediately.
Which countries trade with Iran
Dawn cited the economic database Trading Economics as listing Iran’s primary trading partners as China, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.
In the same report, Trump did not identify specific countries in his post, even as the announcement raised questions about how broadly the tariff could be applied.
China’s response
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “tariff wars have no winners” and said China would “firmly protect its legitimate and lawful rights and interests.”
Mao also said Beijing supports Iran in maintaining national stability and opposes interference in Iran’s internal affairs, as well as the use or threat of force in international affairs.
Separately, Dawn reported that a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said China opposes “any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction” and that China would take measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
Wider Iran tensions and protests
Both Anadolu Agency and Dawn linked the tariff announcement to ongoing unrest in Iran, describing protests driven by worsening economic conditions and an intensified crackdown by authorities.
Anadolu Agency reported that mass protests were held on Monday in several parts of Iran and said the death toll had risen to 646, citing the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Dawn reported that rights organizations warned communications disruptions could obscure a rising death toll and said the internet shutdown has made it extremely difficult to independently verify casualty reports, citing a rights group’s comments.
Dawn also reported that Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of backing what they described as armed rioters who carried out attacks in public places.
US posture and diplomacy signals
Dawn reported that the White House said Trump was “unafraid” to use military force against Iran while still prioritizing diplomatic options.
Anadolu Agency similarly reported that Trump’s tariff post came hours after the White House said he had an interest in exploring diplomacy with Tehran.
Dawn also reported that the US State Department advised US-Iranian dual nationals to leave Iran on Iranian passports, saying Iran does not recognize dual nationality and warning that US nationals face significant risks of questioning, arrest, and detention.
Iran’s official messaging and talks claims
Dawn reported that Iran held large pro-government rallies that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised as a sign the protest movement had been subdued, and that he described the turnout as a warning to the United States.
Dawn said Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told a crowd Iran was fighting a “four-front war,” including economic and psychological fronts and what he called “military war” with the United States and Israel, alongside what he described as a war against terrorists referring to the protests.
Dawn also reported that Trump said Iran’s leadership had reached out to him “to negotiate,” while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was not seeking war but was prepared for war and supported “fair” negotiations.
