A day earlier, the president said Iranian officials reached out to the White House about a potential nuclear deal.
President Donald Trump announced on Jan. 12 that countries trading with Iran will face a 25 percent tariff.
The announcement comes as the Islamic Republic’s regime grapples with some of the most significant protests since it took over the secular monarchy of the shah in 1979.
“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social in the late afternoon. “This Order is final and conclusive.”
The president did not provide other details on the executive order. No order related to Iran-linked tariffs had been released by the White House as of the evening of Jan. 12.
The comment from Trump comes just hours after the White House signaled that the administration could consider airstrikes or other measures against Iran.
Although airstrikes are one of many alternatives open to Trump, “diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Jan. 12.
.@PressSec Karoline Leavitt on Iran: "Air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the Commander in Chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president." pic.twitter.com/UmqrhPD7JP
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 12, 2026
“What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” she said.
Trump said on Jan. 11 that Iranian officials had reached out to the White House about a potential nuclear deal.
“We may meet with them. A meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening,” he told reporters on Air Force One, adding that “very strong options” are possible with regard to supporting the protests in Iran.
Iranian officials warned that Tehran would target U.S. military bases in the Middle East if an attack were launched. Trump warned that it could provide a significant response.
“If they did that, we will hit them at a level they were never hit before,” Trump told reporters on Jan. 11. “I have options that are so strong. If they did that, I will hit them with very powerful force.”
