Trump Is Now Threatening A 25% Tariff On Countries "Doing Business" With Iran Over The Anti-Government Protests
"There seem to be some people killed that aren't supposed to be killed. These are violent, if you call them leaders, I don't know if they're leaders, or just they rule through violence, but we're looking at it very seriously." Trump said.
US president Donald Trump has said the US will impose a 25% tariff on countries that continue to trade with Iran.
Since Dec. 28, people in Iran have been holding huge anti-government protests after the country’s currency hit a record low.
Authorities have cracked down violently on protesters, leaving more than 496 protesters and 48 security personnel killed, with more than 10,600 people detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA).
Trump then threatened Iran on Sunday, Jan.11, that the US could intervene militarily if more protesters were killed.
"There seem to be some people killed that aren't supposed to be killed. These are violent, if you call them leaders, I don't know if they're leaders, or just they rule through violence, but we're looking at it very seriously. The military's looking at it and we're looking at some very strong options. We'll make a determination," Trump said.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday, Jan.12, “the situation has come under total control” and blamed the US and Israel for the violence in protests, adding it is to give an “excuse” for Trump to intervene militarily in Iran.
Later, on Monday, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the US will impose a 25% tariff on countries that continue to trade with Iran, adding the measure would take effect 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,” Trump wrote, adding that the order is final and conclusive.
He did not provide details on how the tariffs would be enforced, and there was also no official documentation published on the White House website.
It is not clear which countries might be affected, but Iran maintains trade ties with several major economies, including China, the UAE, Turkey and Russia.
China’s embassy in Washington criticized the move, saying it opposed “any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction” and would take steps to defend its legitimate interests.
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
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