“We have a lot of ships heading that way just in case. We've got a big flotilla heading there and we'll see what happens, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. – We have an armada. We have a huge fleet heading in that direction. Maybe we won't have to use it, we'll see, added the US president.
Why did Donald Trump send the US army towards Iran?
What tariffs has Donald Trump announced?
Which countries may be subject to new tariffs?
What did Trump say about helping Iranian protesters?
– I would prefer nothing happened, but we are watching them very closely – he noted.
Trump said that last week, thanks to his threat an hour before the scheduled execution of 837 people, the Iranian authorities canceled it.
“If you do business with Iran, you'll get a 25 percent tariff.”
He also announced that his administration is working on 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with Iran. “If you do business with Iran, you will get a 25 percent tariff,” he said, without revealing details. He announced that the tariffs would come into force soon.
Trump announced the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on goods from countries “doing business” with Iran in the first half of January. He did not explain which countries the sanctions would cover.
“Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a 25% customs duty on all transactions with the United States of America. This regulation is final and binding,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social networking site. The US president announced the tariffs in response to massive anti-government protests that brutally suppressed security forces.
Trump encourages Iranians to protest. “Help is on the way”
Trump encouraged Iranians to continue protests and assured that “help is on the way.” He later softened his message and announced that he had received an assurance from the authorities in Tehran that they would stop the bloody crackdown on the demonstrators, as well as the executions of prisoners.
According to World Bank data, Iran's largest partner is China, which is responsible for over 1/4 of trade exchange. Other significant contractors include Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, India and Pakistan; Russia is also an important ally of Iran.
