Donald Trump has warned that countries providing military weapons to Iran could face sweeping new tariffs, in a move that risks escalating economic tensions despite a recent ceasefire.
In a post on social media, the U.S. president said any nation supplying arms to Tehran would be hit with a 50% tariff on all goods exported to the United States, with no exemptions.
The announcement came just hours after Washington agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities with Iran, following weeks of strikes targeting its missile systems and military infrastructure.
“A country supplying military weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed… 50%, effective immediately,” Trump wrote, without naming specific countries.
Although no country was identified, the warning is widely understood to be directed at China and Russia, both of which have historically supported Iran’s defence capabilities.
Beijing and Moscow have denied any recent involvement in supplying weapons, insisting they have taken a neutral stance and supported diplomatic efforts.
Recent reports, however, have suggested ongoing concerns within the U.S. administration about technology and components reaching Iran from abroad, including alleged links to Chinese firms. China has rejected those claims.
The proposal also raises questions about how such tariffs could be implemented. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority by using emergency powers to impose broad global tariffs, limiting his ability to act quickly.
Trade specialists say alternative routes - such as targeted investigations under existing trade laws - are available, but would take time and may only apply to specific sectors rather than entire economies.
There are also concerns about the potential economic impact. The United States maintains extensive trade ties with China, and analysts warn that imposing steep tariffs could increase costs for American businesses and consumers.
At the same time, Washington has been seeking to avoid a major escalation in trade tensions, particularly ahead of a possible meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.
The latest threat suggests tariffs remain a central tool in Trump’s foreign policy approach, even as military tensions with Iran temporarily ease under the current ceasefire.
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Pakistan‑brokered talks between the U.S., Israel and Iran get underway today as disagreements continue over the two‑week ceasefire, including Israel‑Hezbollah conflict and Iran’s handling of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump warned the terms were being misapplied.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 10 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday an Easter ceasefire with Ukraine lasting 32-hours and said that Kyiv has agreed to abide by the measure. The ceasefire is expected to begin at 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on Saturday 11 April and last until midnight Sunday 12 April, the Kremlin said.
First Lady Melania Trump has publicly denied any connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, dismissing speculation about their relationship and urging an end to what she described as “lies”.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
At least six people have died after weeks of heavy rainfall triggered flooding in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan. The latest victim, an elderly woman, was found beneath rubble in the village of Mikhaylovka, the Russian Emergency Ministry said on Tuesday (7 April).
Some geographies are small on the map yet immense in history. The Strait of Hormuz is one. About a quarter of global oil trade and a fifth of LNG flows pass through this narrow corridor - around 20 million barrels per day sustaining the global system.
A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran showed further strain on Friday, a day before they are to negotiate in Pakistan, as Washington accused Tehran of breaching promises on the Strait of Hormuz and Israel struck Lebanon with attacks that Iran has claimed violate the ceasefire.
Pakistan‑brokered talks between the U.S., Israel and Iran get underway today as disagreements continue over the two‑week ceasefire, including Israel‑Hezbollah conflict and Iran’s handling of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump warned the terms were being misapplied.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Iranian officials have criticised ceasefire violations by Isreal and U.S., citing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon on Wednesday (8 April), an intrusion of a military drone, and a U.S. denial of Tehran’s right of nuclear enrichment, on the first day of the two-week ceasefire on Wednesday.
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