Washington uses trade power to force a global choice over Iran.

The United States has taken a sharp turn in its Iran policy by tying global trade directly to political unrest inside the country.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will impose a 25 percent tariff on all goods from countries that continue to trade with Iran. He revealed the decision on Truth Social, saying it takes effect at once and leaves no room for exceptions. The move goes beyond past sanctions by punishing third countries rather than Iran alone. It targets major economies such as China, India, and Turkey, all of which maintain trade ties with Tehran. The timing is not accidental. Iran has entered its fourteenth day of nationwide protests, with human rights groups reporting more than 500 deaths. By linking tariffs to unrest, Washington has raised the stakes for global trade and regional stability.

At the heart of the policy is oil. China buys close to 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports, according to shipping data and energy analysts. Much of this oil moves through opaque routes using tankers that turn off tracking systems. Past US sanctions tried to block this trade through banks and insurers. The new tariff sidesteps these limits. It does not matter how oil moves or how payments clear. Any country found trading with Iran now faces a flat tax on all its exports to the United States. For China, this presents a painful choice. Iranian oil is cheap and helps smaller Chinese refineries survive. The US market, however, remains vital for Chinese manufacturing. A 25 percent tariff threatens jobs, prices, and growth at a time when China’s economy is already under strain.

India faces a different dilemma. New Delhi stopped buying Iranian oil after earlier US pressure but kept other trade alive. India exports rice, tea, and medicines to Iran and sees the country as a gateway to Central Asia through projects like Chabahar port. Under........

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