By Gloria Ogbonna
The administration announced a new tariff on any country that continues to do business with Iran, a move that significantly raises economic pressure on the Islamic Republic and signals a tougher stance from the administration amid escalating unrest in the region.
The announcement was made late Monday afternoon via Trump’s Truth Social account, where the president laid out the policy in stark terms. “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,” Trump wrote.
“This Order is final and conclusive.” The statement left little room for negotiation and underscored Trump’s willingness to use economic leverage as a primary tool against Tehran.
The tariff announcement came just hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration is keeping all possible options open in response to Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters.
When asked whether military action, including airstrikes, had been ruled out, Leavitt made clear that nothing has been taken off the table.
“I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table,” Leavitt said. “Airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president.”
Leavitt emphasized that the administration is receiving private communications from Iran that differ significantly from the regime’s public statements. According to her,
Trump is interested in exploring those private messages to determine whether a diplomatic path remains viable. She also noted that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will continue to play a central role in diplomatic efforts related to Iran.
Over the weekend, Trump struck a more hopeful tone, suggesting that Iran may be approaching a historic turning point. On Saturday, he said that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” and added that the United States “stands ready to help,” signaling support for the Iranian people rather than the ruling regime.
However, the situation appears to be rapidly deteriorating. According to CNN, more than 500 protesters have been killed during demonstrations against Iran’s government, and over 10,000 people have reportedly been arrested.
The protests have drawn international condemnation and intensified scrutiny of the Iranian leadership’s use of force.
Speaking Sunday night while returning to Washington, D.C., from Palm Beach, Florida, Trump suggested that Iran may be nearing what he described as his “red line.”
“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said, accusing the regime of ruling “through violence” under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump added that the U.S. military is actively assessing the situation. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” he said. He also noted that while some protesters were reportedly shot, others died as a result of chaotic stampedes during the unrest.
The newly announced tariffs mark one of the strongest economic measures Trump has threatened in response to Iran’s actions and could have far-reaching implications for global trade.
By targeting third-party countries that maintain commercial ties with Tehran, the administration is effectively forcing U.S. allies and trading partners to choose between access to American markets and continued engagement with Iran raising the stakes in an already volatile geopolitical standoff.
Source Breitbart
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