 "US President Donald Trump takes questions from members of the media during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House on January 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. AFP")
US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration would impose a 25 per cent tariff on countries trading with Iran, as he backs protestors amid widespread demonstrations across the country.
“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. This Order is final and conclusive,” Trump said on TruthSocial.
Currently, Iran’s largest trading partners are China, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. The White House, however, has not shared any details about the new tariffs or revealed which countries would be hit the most.
Trump mulls military action
Trump has also said he is considering “very strong” military action against Iran over the protests that have reportedly killed over 500 people till now. When asked on the matter aboard the Air Force One on Sunday, if Iran has crossed his previously stated red line of protesters being killed, Trump said, “they’re starting to, it looks like.”
“We’re looking at it very seriously,” the US president said. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination," he said.
Trump has maintained that Iran had proposed negotiations. “I think they’re tired of being beaten up by the United States,” he said. “Iran wants to negotiate.” However, he raised concerns over the death of protesters in Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has issued a strong warning to the US that its military bases, ships, and personnel across the country would be targeted if he intervenes in Iranian affairs.
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View All“Come and see what will happen to American ships and military bases in the region. Come and burn in the fire of the Iranian nation so severely that it becomes a lasting lesson in history for all oppressive US rulers. Come and find out what will happen to you and to the region,” Qalibaf warned.
Pezeshkian joins pro-govt rally
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian marched alongside tens of thousands flag-waving supporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Monday, as protests against Iran’s ruling establishment continued to intensify and the reported death toll rose sharply.
Pezeshkian, who had urged citizens to gather in major cities to counter what he described as “foreign-backed” anti-government protests, was joined by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to images circulating online.
Demonstrators were seen waving national flags and chanting slogans branding protesters as “terrorists.”
The show of support for the regime came amid an intensified crackdown on dissent.
According to a Guardian report, the government sought to project an image of control and normalcy, despite what analysts describe as the country’s largest protest movement since 2009.