JAKARTA - A new round of international pressure threatens to worsen Iran’s economic collapse and might push more people to leave the country. 

On January 12, 2026, US President Donald Trump ordered a 25 percent tariff on imports from any country that keeps trading with Iran to squeeze Tehran’s economy. While Washington gave no details about its legal basis or how it’ll be enforced, Trump called the order “final.”

“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!,” Trump said on his Truth Social post. 

Asia-Pacific countries of China and Pakistan rank among Iran’s biggest trading partners, with China buying the majority of Iran’s oil and other key exports.

Iran’s currency has fallen to historic lows on unofficial markets, trading near 1.47 million rials to the US dollar, and prices for basic goods are rising fast. The economic shock has helped fuel nationwide protests, and merchants and workers have joined calls for change as inflation eats away wages.

The move comes as Iran reels from large protests and rising violence and arrives ahead of a Supreme Court review of the legality of several of Trump’s tariff actions. Human rights groups say the recent deadly crackdown on anti-government protests has killed over 600 people at the time of publication. 

Iran’s government-imposed internet blackout has passed 108 hours, cutting most of the country off from the outside world after protest videos spread online. Rights groups say more than 90 million people are affected, with limited access via tools like Starlink and residents reporting severe difficulty communicating.

But besides the economic pressure, Washington also weighs military and covert options and Iran says it is open to talks but prepared for war.