Trump's 25% Iran Tariff Puts Pakistan in a Bind Over Trade and Energy

• US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran, causing concern for Pakistan.
• The measure is a blanket secondary action, penalizing countries maintaining commercial ties with Iran regardless of scale or sector.
• Pakistan's bilateral trade with Iran is currently $3 billion annually, with plans to expand to $10 billion by 2028, focusing on energy, agriculture, and petrochemicals.
• A 25% tariff could severely impact Pakistan's key exports to the US and risk its energy supplies if trade with Iran is scaled back.
• Pakistan is exploring informal trade channels but fears even symbolic trade could trigger penalties, with the Shehbaz Sharif government remaining silent on the issue.

Why It Matters: Trump's Iran tariff creates a dilemma for Pakistan, forcing a choice between US trade and regional ties.