The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has imposed a sweeping 25 percent tariff on countries maintaining commercial ties with Iran, framing the move as part of a broader effort to weaken Tehran amid escalating unrest and violent suppression of nationwide protests.
The measure comes as Iran faces deepening economic strain, with inflation soaring to 42 percent and the national currency, the rial, crashing to a record 1.4 million to the dollar—developments that have intensified public anger and fueled sustained demonstrations.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across the Islamic republic in recent days, demanding sweeping political change, while security forces respond with force, prompting international concern and renewed scrutiny of governments maintaining ties with Tehran.
Trump announced the tariff decision yesterday, days after warning that the U.S. would “hit Iran hard” following reports of a deadly crackdown on demonstrators, noting that the policy would take immediate effect on global trade partners.
“Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25 percent on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This order is final and conclusive,” the U.S. president stated.
Nigeria appears exposed to the policy shift, having reaffirmed its bilateral engagement with Iran last December during a high-level meeting in Abuja focused on trade, energy cooperation, investment opportunities, and broader multilateral engagement.
The meeting involved Nigeria’s foreign ministry permanent secretary, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, and Iran’s ambassador, Gholamreza Madhavi Raja, who described Nigeria as strategically important to Iran’s outreach in West Africa and the wider African continent.
Beyond bilateral ties, Nigeria has previously drawn attention for its diplomatic stance on Iran, voting in December 2022, alongside seven other countries, against Iran’s removal from the United Nations Women’s Rights Commission despite allegations of widespread abuses.
Trump’s latest move is expected to have far-reaching implications for the United States’ commercial ties, potentially affecting trade with China, India, the United Arab Emirates, members of the European Union, and other nations.
