President Donald Trump announced a 25 % tariff on goods from countries that do business with Iran, tightening economic pressure on Tehran amid weeks of mass unrest. The move follows protests that began over worsening economic conditions but have sharpened into a broader challenge to the regime. William Roebuck, former U.S. ambassador to Bahrain and executive vice‑president of the Arab Gulf States Institute, told Bloomberg’s Horizons Middle East and Africa anchor Joumanna Bercetche that protests alone are unlikely to topple the government. He warned that the regime will likely use a mix of repression and selective concessions to survive.

Analysts say the tariff could hurt Iran’s already fragile trade network and push the country toward deeper sanctions. Meanwhile, the U.S. seeks to signal resolve to allies while avoiding a sudden escalation. The next steps will involve monitoring Iran’s response and assessing whether the economic squeeze can force policy shifts without sparking a broader conflict.