Iran is in the midst of political turmoil right now. Protests that erupted in Tehran on December 28, 2025, have spread to more than 280 locations in the country, killing as many as 600 citizens.US President Donald Trump has warned of military action if security forces continue to kill protestors. To add pressure on the already dwindling economy and theocracy, on Monday, Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran. “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. This order is final and conclusive. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” wrote the President on his social media platform Truth Social. But which countries does the Middle Eastern hub trade with and what do they stand to lose? Let’s delve in!
China
Out of the 100+ countries that trade with Iran, China is its biggest export partner. From January to November 2025, China exported $6.23 billion worth of goods to Iran and imported $2.86 billion, as per Chinese customs data. This is apart from the 90% of oil exports that China buys from the country. As of now, China faces a tariff of 47% on US products. However, with the application of the latest threat this could increase to a whopping 72%, which could reignite the trade war between the two biggest economies of the world.
India
India has also been one of the major trade partners of Iran in recent years. While India imports dry fruits, inorganic or organic chemicals and glassware from Iran, it exports rice, tea, sugar, pharmaceuticals and electrical machinery in exchange. In August 2025, Trump imposed a minimum 50% tariff on India to punish it for buying Russian oil. If Trump’s latest tariff threats materialise, it could face 75% new tariffs.
Türkiye
Iran and Türkiye have been working to boost bilateral trade ties between the nations and have set a target of $30 billion in trade volume. Türkiye mainly exports machinery and parts, plastics and various chemical products, agricultural products, and metal ores to Iran, while it imports natural gas, metal, and agricultural products from the neighbour. Currently, the US has imposed an average 15% reciprocal tariff on goods from Türkiye and if it continues trade with Iran, its rate would still increase to a modest position.
United Arab Emirates
2024 data from the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Economy and Tourism shows the total trade volume between the UAE and Iran was $6.62 billion. The UAE sold gold, smartphones and corn to Iran, and mainly bought hydrocarbons from it, according to WTO data. UAE, like most Gulf States only faces a baseline 10% tariff duty under Trump’s policy.
Iraq
Iraq received goods worth $10.5 billion from its neighbour in 2025 as per figures from Trade Data Monitor which are based on statistics from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, reported BBC.
Brazil
Iran also has stable trading relations with Brazil, most of which are based on agribusiness. In 2024, Brazilian exports to Tehran exceeded $3 billion, as per federal data reported by CNN Brasil. Soybeans, corn, sugar and other agricultural products are exported by Brazil while it imports relatively little from Iran. With the economic disruption of the country, consistently low rates of the Iranian rial and 40% inflation, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is currently facing nationwide protests. In addition to this, the authorities have imposed a near-total internet shutdown in an attempt to disconnect the protestors from the rest of the world.
