It seems wherever there is a crisis, be it in Iran or Ukraine, US President Donald Trump always finds a reason to target India. Hours after sweet talk by US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor of India being the “most essential partner” of the US, his boss, Trump, imposed a new 25% tariff on countries doing trade with crisis-hit Iran — a move set to impact New Delhi severely. India, which is among Iran’s top five trading partners, may see its tariffs on US imports surge to a whopping 75%.

Tightening the noose around Iran, which is witnessing its biggest anti-government protest in years, Trump said any country doing business with Iran would “immediately” face a 25% tariff on trade with the US. “This order is final and conclusive,” Trump underlined.

Now, without a trade deal with the US, Indian goods are already facing the highest US tariff rate of 50%. Apart from a 25% reciprocal duty, Trump slapped an additional 25% punitive levy on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil. A further 25% duty will take the total tariffs on Indian imports to the US to 75%.