Trump demands reparations from Iran for the killing of US soldiers over many years

In the most recent indication that his talks to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz have come to a standstill, Donald Trump has said that he will demand recompense from Iran for the deaths of thousands of US military and Iranian civilians slain in recent decades. The US president is attempting to put an end to the wars in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon. At the same time as Israel has rejected Trump’s requests for a 15-point roadmap to end the war in Gaza, his further demands of Iran are certain to infuriate Tehran.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he was demanding war reparations because Iranian negotiators had made similar demands for damages for the five-month conflict that has destroyed Iran’s economy and military and killed thousands of people.

“Now I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts, for which they are famous, as led initially by Gen Soleimani, including the families of those killed on the USS Cole, and thousands of others killed in combat,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protesters that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months.”

Before the US and Israel launched combined strikes on Iran in late February, 20% of the world’s oil commerce passed via the strait of Hormuz, thus the demands are probably not going to be accepted by Iran’s authorities in the cautious peace talks. Despite the fact that no agreement has been reached, Trump and other high-ranking negotiators have repeatedly stated that one is on the horizon.

The comments came after a string of failures for Trump’s attempts to resolve a number of Middle East issues prior to the November midterm elections, which will likely affect fellow Republicans at the polls due to high oil prices and inflation.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, declared on Sunday that he rejected the 15-point plan to end Israel’s assault in Gaza put forth by the Board of Peace, which is supported by Trump. Instead of the Board of Peace’s suggested phased withdrawal, Netanyahu had stated that Israel would not consider leaving Gaza until Hamas completely disarmed.

Netanyahu presented the move as a rejection of US pressure on Israel to end multiple Middle Eastern conflicts. Netanyahu stated, “Unlike all those who lecture us, we do what is necessary for Israel’s security and we can and know how to stand our ground, even against our best friends when necessary.”

Netanyahu’s remarks marked a remarkably public split between the leaders of the United States and its closest Middle Eastern partner, and Trump has not responded to them. However, he responded that his relationship with Netanyahu was “very good” to a shouted question in the Oval Office on Monday. Trump has made an effort to put more pressure on Iran. He expanded his demands for war reparations from Tehran to include the victims of recent conflicts across the region an hour after he made his initial statement.