U.S. President Trump addressed Iran’s reported demand for war reparations in statements he made on his social media account and after a press conference at the Oval Office.
Trump said Iran’s demand concerned the damage it suffered during the five-month military conflict. Claiming that the conflict began because Iran did not possess nuclear weapons, Trump said the issue of war reparations had not been raised in negotiations held so far.
Demand for reparations from Iran
Announcing that the United States would also seek reparations in response to Iran’s demand, Trump argued that Iran should pay for damage he alleges it caused in the Middle East over the past 50 years. Trump claimed that Iran was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in the region.
Trump said forces led by General Qasem Soleimani had killed many people in various areas. He said compensation should also be paid to the families of those killed aboard the USS Cole and the protesters who died during demonstrations in Iran.
In a later statement, Trump said Iran should also be held responsible for the damage and loss of life in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza. He said they would pursue the issue of reparations firmly in the next phase of negotiations.
Possibility of a major attack
Trump said the possibility of a major attack against Iran remained if no agreement could be reached with the country. He said the United States had the capacity to carry out such an action if it chose to do so.
Claiming that Iran was facing severe economic difficulties and could not pay its soldiers, Trump argued that the country still had the military capacity to cause trouble in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was open and under the complete control of the U.S. Navy. He said only tankers that had been granted permission could pass through the strait, while other vessels could not transit because of the blockade.
Response to Netanyahu’s statements
Asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest statements, Trump said he had responded through his Truth Social account. The U.S. president said relations between the United States and Israel were in good condition.
