Which countries face Trump’s 25% tariffs over Iran trade?
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- Trump threatens 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with Iran amid major protests.
- China remains Iran’s largest trade partner, with energy exports dominating commerce.
US President Donald Trump said Monday that any country conducting trade with Iran will face tariffs of 25 percent on trade with the United States, as Tehran struggles to contain its largest anti-government protests in years.
Read more: US to hit Iran's trading partners with tariffs: Trump
The warning adds to mounting economic pressure on Iran, which has been under strict US sanctions for years. Trump did not clarify how the tariffs would be implemented or whether exemptions would apply.
Iran’s global trade footprint
Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, exported goods to 147 trade partners in 2022, according to the latest World Bank data.
Its key commercial partners include China, several East Asian countries, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Germany.
Fuel is Iran’s largest export by value, while its main imports include intermediate goods, vegetables, machinery, and industrial equipment.
China
China is Iran’s largest trading partner, World Bank data show. Iranian exports to China reached $22 billion in 2022, with fuel accounting for more than half of the total. Imports from China stood at $15 billion.
Read more: Trump weighs Iran strike amid diplomatic push, says Axios
China purchased more than eighty percent of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025. Iranian oil has a limited pool of buyers due to US sanctions aimed at cutting funding for Tehran’s nuclear program, according to analytics firm Kpler.
India
Total bilateral trade between India and Iran reached $1.34 billion in the first ten months of 2025, according to India’s Ministry of Commerce. India’s main exports to Iran include basmati rice, fruits, vegetables, and pharmaceutical products.
Iranian exports to Turkey were valued at $5.8 billion in 2022, while imports from Turkey totaled $6.1 billion, according to the World Bank.
Europe and East Asia
Iran exported $178 million worth of goods to Germany in 2022, while imports from Germany reached $1.9 billion.
South Korean data show limited trade. Exports to Iran between January and November 2025 totaled $129 million, while imports stood at $1.6 million.
Japanese trade figures through November 2025 indicate modest imports of Iranian fruits, vegetables, and textiles, while Japan exported machinery and car engines to Iran.
Rising uncertainty
Trump’s tariff threat raises uncertainty for countries maintaining economic ties with Iran, particularly major energy buyers. No official documentation has been released by the White House detailing the legal basis or timeline for the proposed measures.
The announcement comes as Iran faces growing domestic unrest, adding to regional and global concerns over economic stability and geopolitical escalation.
