Trump demands compensation from Iran, counters Tehran's claims ahead of Hormuz talks

Trump's counter-demand

On Monday, August 10, US President Donald Trump announced he will demand compensation from Iran for all people killed and wounded as a result of Iranian government actions, and said he has instructed his representatives to include the issue in future negotiations with Tehran. The declaration came in a post on Truth Social, where Trump responded directly to Iranian demands for reparations for damages suffered during what he described as five months of armed conflict. Trump wrote that the conflict began because Iran would not be permitted to have nuclear weapons, and noted that the Iranian demand for compensation had never been raised during any prior negotiations or meetings between the two sides. The US president's announcement followed Iran's own demands, made over the weekend, linking the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a set of American concessions.

I see that the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are demanding compensation for damages inflicted on them during the last five months of armed conflict (which started because THEY WILL NOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS), even though this was never mentioned during any of our negotiations or meetings!

Categories of victims

Trump framed his counter-claim as a direct response to Iran's initiative. He said the United States would now also demand compensation from Iran for all people killed or severely wounded by roadside bombs and in the numerous conflicts Iran is associated with, initially led by General Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani commanded the special forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was killed in a US strike in early 2020. Trump's list of intended beneficiaries also includes families of sailors killed on the USS Cole, where 17 American sailors died in an attack on October 12, 2000, off the coast of Yemen. He additionally referenced "thousands of others who died in battle" and said compensation should extend to families of protesters killed by the Iranian regime.

But that's an interesting idea, because from now on I will also be demanding compensation from Iran -- for all the people they killed or badly wounded with roadside bombs and in the many conflicts they are known for, initially led by General (Qasem) Soleimani.

Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic outlook

Over the past weekend, Iran conditioned the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on the United States meeting several demands, including payment of war reparations, an end to the blockade of Iranian ports, and the withdrawal of US forces from the region. CNN assessed that the exchange of positions between the two sides suggests the US and Iran are not closer to an agreement that would lead to the reopening of the strait. According to the network, the new demands from both sides may reduce the chances of a quick deal, despite optimism last week that an agreement was close. The back-and-forth over compensation contrasts with the more hopeful tone of the previous week, when reports suggested a deal on the waterway was within reach.