US President Donald Trump on Monday turned Iran’s demand for war compensation back on Tehran, saying he would seek reparations for people he alleged had been killed or seriously wounded as a result of Iranian actions over several decades. Trump’s remarks came after Tehran demanded compensation for damage caused by US and Israeli military operations, making reparations one of its conditions amid efforts to negotiate an end to the prolonged confrontation and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Iran’s demand for compensation as an “interesting idea” before saying Washington would make demands of its own. Trump said he would seek compensation for Americans killed or gravely wounded by roadside bombs and other attacks he attributed to Iran, as well as for other victims over what he described as nearly five decades of Iranian actions. He also referred to those killed during anti-government protests in Iran and said Tehran should compensate their families. The remarks reflected Washington’s rejection of Iran’s demand that the US and Israel pay for destruction caused during the conflict.
Iran has made compensation for war damage part of a wider set of demands linked to resolving the confrontation with Washington and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. Tehran has also sought an end to the US naval blockade, the lifting of sanctions and military threats, the release of frozen Iranian assets and the withdrawal of American forces from the region. Iran has said the Strait will not fully reopen while the US blockade remains in place.
Iran and Oman have been discussing arrangements for new shipping lanes through the Strait, but Tehran has linked implementation of any agreement to Washington addressing its broader demands. Trump’s counter-demand adds another contentious issue to negotiations at a time when Washington and Tehran remain far apart over the terms required to reduce tensions.
The US president has also indicated that Washington is only “semi-negotiating” with Tehran, even as diplomatic efforts continue to find a way out of the standoff. The compensation dispute comes against the backdrop of months of conflict that has caused extensive damage in Iran and across the wider region while disrupting energy markets and commercial shipping. Trump’s latest remarks indicate that Washington does not intend to accept Tehran’s demand for reparations without advancing claims of its own, potentially complicating efforts to reach an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and the broader US-Iran confrontation.