US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order authorizing tariffs of up to 25% on goods imported into the United States from countries that continue to purchase goods or services from Iran.
The order, which takes effect Saturday, directs the administration to impose duties on products “of any country that directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or otherwise acquires any goods or services from Iran.” It sets a mechanism for determining and applying those duties and names US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as responsible for setting the tariff rate.
Trump first threatened such measures amid rising tensions with Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and a violent crackdown on recent anti‑regime protests. Aimed at pressuring countries that trade with Iran, the tariffs would affect major partners including China — Iran’s largest trading partner and top buyer of its oil — as well as Russia, Germany, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The White House framed the move as holding Iran accountable for its nuclear ambitions, support for terrorism, ballistic missile development and regional destabilization.
Meanwhile, indirect talks between the US and Iran in Muscat, Oman, concluded Friday without an immediate breakthrough but with both sides signaling a willingness to continue negotiations. The discussions, mediated by Oman and described by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as “a good start,” were the first since US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Trump called the talks “very good” and said another meeting was planned for early next week, adding that Iran “looks like it wants to make a deal very badly” but reiterating that Tehran must never obtain nuclear weapons.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper attended the Muscat talks, underscoring the military pressure on Iran as US warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, have begun patrols off the Iranian coast.
Inside Iran, authorities have imposed an internet blackout amid a sweeping crackdown on protests that began in December. The US‑based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported confirming 6,505 protesters killed, along with 214 security personnel and 61 bystanders.
Before the June attacks, Iran had enriched uranium up to 60% purity — a short technical step from weapons‑grade material — making it the only non‑nuclear‑armed state to reach that level, the International Atomic Energy Agency has noted. Tehran has refused IAEA requests to inspect bombed sites, increasing concerns among nonproliferation experts. Iran had already limited inspections after Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
