Which countries will be impacted by Trump's 25% Iran tariffs? Some are close allies of US - here's the breakdown

Trump 25% tariffs on countries trading with Iran: US president Donald Trump said that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States, a move that could affect a wide range of nations as Tehran faces its biggest anti-government protests in years, as per a report.

Trump warns of 25% tariffs on countries trading with Iran: Iran’s global trade footprint remains wide

Iran is a member of the OPEC oil producers group and has extensive global trade ties. According to the latest World Bank data, Iran exported goods to 147 trading partners in 2022, reported Reuters. Its key trade partners include China, several East Asian countries, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Germany.

Fuel dominates Iran’s exports

Fuel is Iran’s largest export by value, while its main imports include intermediate goods, vegetables, machinery and equipment.


Here is a closer look at some of the countries that could be affected by Trump’s tariff warning.

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China is Iran’s biggest trading partner

China is Iran’s largest trading partner. Iranian exports to China totalled $22 billion in 2022, with fuels accounting for more than half of that amount, Reuters reported, citing World Bank data. Imports from China stood at $15 billion.

In 2025, China bought more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil, Reuters reported, citing data from analytics firm Kpler. US sanctions have limited Iran’s pool of oil buyers as Washington seeks to cut off funding for Tehran’s nuclear programme.

India’s trade with Iran remains modest

India’s total bilateral trade with Iran reached $1.34 billion during the first 10 months of 2025, Reuters reported, citing India’s commerce ministry. Major Indian exports to Iran include basmati rice, fruits, vegetables, drugs and other pharmaceutical products.

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Turkey maintains strong bilateral trade with Iran

Iran’s exports to Turkey amounted to $5.8 billion in 2022, while imports from Turkey reached $6.1 billion, Reuters reported, citing World Bank figures.

Germany imports far more from Iran than it exports

Trade between Iran and Germany remains uneven. Iran exported $178 million worth of goods to Germany in 2022, while imports from Germany totalled $1.9 billion.

South Korea’s Iran trade stays marginal

South Korea’s trade with Iran has been limited. Between January and November 2025, South Korean exports to Iran stood at $129 million, while imports totalled just $1.6 million, Reuters reported, citing data from the Korea International Trade Association.

Japan’s trade with Iran involves small volumes

Japan imported small quantities of fruit, vegetables and textiles from Iran and exported machinery and vehicle engines to the country, Reuters reported, citing the latest Japanese trade data available through November 2025.

US allies could face trade pressure under Trump’s tariff warning

With Trump’s proposed 25% tariff targeting any nation that continues business with Iran, several countries, including close US allies, could face new trade pressures depending on how Washington enforces the policy.

FAQs

Why could this tariff affect many countries?

Iran trades with 147 countries, according to World Bank data.

What is Iran’s biggest export?

Fuel is Iran’s largest export by value.