US President Donald Trump on Friday, February 6, signed an executive order authorizing new tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran, intensifying economic pressure on Tehran ahead of a planned new round of talks next week.
The order, which takes effect on Saturday, February 7, calls for the imposition of tariffs on goods imported into the United States from any country that “directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or otherwise acquires any goods or services from Iran.” The move formalizes a warning Trump issued in January, when he threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Iran’s trading partners.
Under the order, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is tasked with determining the specific tariff rates, though the document references 25 percent as a benchmark. The policy is expected to affect several countries, including China, Russia, Germany, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. China remains Iran’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $32 billion in 2024.
The announcement came after indirect talks between US and Iranian officials, mediated by Oman in Muscat on Friday—the first such engagement since the United States joined Israel’s conflict with Iran by launching strikes on nuclear facilities in June. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the discussions had been positive and confirmed that further talks were scheduled for early next week.
Tensions in the region remain high, with a US aircraft carrier group operating in Middle Eastern waters and Iran enforcing an ongoing internet blackout amid a government crackdown on widespread economic protests. A US-based human rights organization reported on Friday that it has confirmed the deaths of 6,505 protesters, 214 security personnel, and 61 bystanders since the unrest began in December.
