United States President Donald Trump has demanded compensation from Iran for deaths and damage he attributes to Tehran, saying his administration will seek payment for what he described as 50 years of harm caused by the country.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the White House, after Iran called on the United States to provide compensation for damage caused by the war between the two countries and to meet other conditions before the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened.
“They asked for reparations, you might say. Or they asked for money for the damage that we’ve done. I said that’s a good idea. Well, we’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50-year period.”
Donald Trump
Trump said that the compensation sought by Washington would include payments linked to the deaths of US forces in the region as well as Iranian civilians killed during protests. He claimed that 52,000 people had been killed in Iran over the past four months, without providing further details to support the figure.
He also said Iran should compensate the families of 17 US sailors killed in the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen. The attack on the naval vessel was attributed to al-Qaeda, rather than Iran.
Trump expanded his demands in a post on Truth Social, saying that Iran should also be held responsible for deaths and damage in several countries affected by regional conflicts. “Also, with respect to the Iran negotiations, Iran should be responsible for the damages and death caused to the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza!” he wrote.
The demand came after Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that Tehran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Washington met Iran’s conditions. The Iranian government has called for an end to the US blockade of its ports, the lifting of economic sanctions and the release of Iranian assets frozen under US measures.
Iran has also demanded compensation for damage caused during the conflict, arguing that the United States should take responsibility for what Tehran describes as illegal and destructive actions. “It is up to the U.S. side to stop and make amends for its illegal and destructive actions,” Baghaei said.
Trump responded by saying his administration would seek compensation from Iran for people he said had been killed or seriously wounded in attacks and conflicts involving Tehran. “We’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50-year period,” Trump said, reiterating his position that the issue should form part of future negotiations.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said that he had instructed US representatives to make compensation a central part of discussions with Iran. “I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations,” he said.
The dispute over compensation is unfolding alongside negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway separating Iran from Oman. Before the US-Israel war on Iran began, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strait, making its continued closure a major concern for energy markets.
Tehran has said it will not reopen the waterway unless Washington agrees to its demands, including war reparations and an end to sanctions. The Iranian position largely reflects provisions contained in an interim peace agreement signed in June, although that arrangement has since broken down amid disagreement over control of the strait.
Talks between Iran and Oman concerning the waterway remain ongoing. Iran has said it was nearing a final agreement with Oman on new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, but has maintained that Washington must first meet its conditions, including ending military threats against Tehran.
The effective closure of the strait since the beginning of the war has disrupted the movement of energy supplies and contributed to higher oil prices and inflation.
Uncertain US Approach To Iran Conflict
The latest exchange also comes amid an uncertain US approach to the conflict. Since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, Trump has alternated between warnings of further military action and suggestions that a diplomatic agreement could be reached.
Last week, Trump threatened to “hit” Iran “very hard” before subsequently indicating that a peace deal could be close. Over the weekend, he said he was “low-keying” his approach, suggesting that he was prepared to allow economic pressure on Iran to increase rather than immediately pursue further military strikes.
Trump’s latest demand for compensation could add another layer of difficulty to negotiations, as Tehran continues to insist that Washington first address its own demands for sanctions relief, compensation and the removal of restrictions affecting Iranian trade and assets.
With both sides now demanding financial compensation and changes to the conditions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the prospects for a negotiated reopening of the waterway remain tied to the broader dispute between Washington and Tehran.
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