US President Donald Trump demanded compensation from Iran for "all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded" in conflict involving Tehran, after Iranian representatives sought compensation for damage caused during the five-month military conflict.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iranian representatives were seeking compensation for damage caused during the conflict, which he said began because Iran would not have a nuclear weapon.
The US president added that the issue had not been raised during previous negotiations or meetings, but called it an “interesting idea” and said he would similarly seek compensation from Iran. The American demand would cover people killed and seriously wounded in conflicts involving Iran, including the families of those killed in the USS Cole attack and others killed in combat.
Also read: Iran ties Hormuz reopening to US concessions on several demands
Trump also called for compensation for the families of protesters killed in Iran over the past 50 years, claiming that hundreds of thousands had been killed. He separately claimed that 52,000 people had been killed in the last five months.
“I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations,” he added.
The announcement comes soon after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made six new appointments to the Revolutionary Guards and armed forces, including Major General Pilot Ali Abdollahi as chief of staff of the armed forces and Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as commander-in-chief of the IRGC.
Earlier on Monday, Iran said it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States met its conditions.
"It is up to the US side to stop and make amends for its illegal and destructive actions," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said, noting the American blockade of Iranian ports.
Under key demands to end the Middle East war, Tehran wants the US to lift the blockade, pay compensation for months of war damage, lift economic sanctions and release Iran's frozen assets.
Meanwhile, Iran is holding separate talks with Oman over transit through the strait, including potentially a temporary shipping corridor. But the country has said any actual reopening is contingent on talks with the US.
Oil prices jump 4 per cent
Following the compensation demand by the US and Iran, oil prices jumped over 4% as prospects for a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz seemed dim.
Brent crude futures were up $3.57, or 4.3%, at $87.13 a barrel by 01:17 p.m. EDT (1717 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $3.36, or 4.3%, at $81.51, according to Reuters.
Both crude benchmarks fell more than 7% last week on hopes that Iran and Oman were close to reaching a deal that would result in a reopening of the strait.
