Key Trading Partners of Iran Facing Potential 25% U.S. Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that any country conducting business with Iran would be subject to a 25% tariff on trade with the United States, as Tehran confronts its most significant wave of anti-government protests in years.
Iran, a member of the OPEC group of oil-producing nations, maintained trade relations with 147 partners in 2022, based on the most recent available data.
Iran’s principal trading partners include China, several East Asian economies, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Germany.
By value, fuel remains Iran’s largest export category. Its main imports include intermediate goods, vegetables, machinery, and industrial equipment.
China
China is Iran’s largest trading partner.
Iranian exports to China totaled $22 billion in 2022, with fuels accounting for more than half of the total. Imports from China reached $15 billion.
In 2025, China purchased more than 80% of Iran’s exported oil. Due to longstanding U.S. sanctions aimed at limiting funding for Tehran’s nuclear program, Iranian crude is sold to a relatively small group of buyers.
India
Total bilateral trade between India and Iran amounted to $1.34 billion during the first ten months of 2025.
India’s major exports to Iran include basmati rice, fruits, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and other medical products.
Turkey
Iran exported goods worth $5.8 billion to Turkey in 2022, while imports from Turkey totaled $6.1 billion during the same year.
Germany
Iran’s exports to Germany were valued at $178 million in 2022, while imports from Germany reached $1.9 billion.
South Korea
Between January and November 2025, South Korea exported goods worth $129 million to Iran, while imports from Iran during the same period stood at $1.6 million.
Japan
Japan imported relatively small volumes of agricultural products such as fruit and vegetables, as well as textiles, from Iran. In return, Japan exported machinery and vehicle engine components to Iran, according to the latest available trade figures through November 2025.