In a dramatic escalation of economic pressure, United States President Donald Trump has announced immediate 25% tariffs on any country conducting business with Iran. The policy was declared via a post on his Truth Social platform late Wednesday.
The move follows a recent threat from President Trump to launch a military offensive against Iran if it killed protesters. The announcement also comes just one day after Iran agreed to withdraw from a major multinational naval exercise alongside South Africa, Russia, and China. Reports indicate the Islamic Republic stepped down following a specific request from the South African government in Pretoria.
The tariffs, described by analysts as “weaponized” trade policy, directly target key U.S. trading partners. South Africa, whose Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel recently welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives’ renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), now faces significant economic risk. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached $15 billion in 2024, with South Africa enjoying a $1 billion surplus largely from commodity exports.
Researcher Mikatekiso Kubayi of the Institute for Global Dialogue provided immediate analysis, warning of the tariffs’ broad impact. “It makes it harder for our producers to sell their goods in the U.S. market,” Kubayi stated, emphasizing that the action affects entire value chains.
Kubayi framed the tariff announcement as part of a consistent pattern from the Trump administration in 2025, targeting Iran, South Africa, and the broader BRICS bloc. He noted the canceled naval drills were a BRICS exercise, coming as India assumes the group’s rotating chairship this month.
“The Trump administration is pushing hegemony in the global system,” Kubayi argued. “It’s something a bit new… and we have to deal with it.” He stressed that South Africa seeks “mature engagement” and is not an enemy of the United States, but must defend its sovereign right to trade with any nation.
When asked about South Africa’s delicate diplomatic balance, Kubayi asserted, “Our relations with Iran should not be dictated to by any other party.” He advised that Pretoria continue negotiations with Washington while urgently diversifying its export markets beyond the United States.
The Department of Trade and Industry has acknowledged the AGOA renewal but has not yet issued a formal response to the new tariff threat. The economic implications for key South African exports, including vehicles and minerals, are considered severe if the policy is enforced.
As a new U.S. Ambassador prepares to take his post in Pretoria, analysts predict a period of intense diplomatic and trade negotiations, with South Africa’s economic strategy and its role within the BRICS alliance hanging in the balance.