President Donald Trump issued a scathing response to reports that Iran intends to demand compensation from the United States for damages sustained during recent military confrontations. Rather than addressing the Iranian claim directly, Trump turned the tables, announcing that he would seek reparations from Tehran for what he characterized as five decades of violence perpetrated by the Islamic Republic since its founding in 1979.
U.S.-Iran Relations
Trump Demands Iran Pay for Decades of Killing
U.S. president responds sharply to Iranian compensation claims, citing American casualties from Iranian-backed attacks and regime violence against protesters
Writing on his social media platform, Trump expressed both anger and mockery at the Iranian position: "I see that representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for damage done to them during the 5 month military conflict (which started because they will not have nuclear weapons), even though this was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings!"
Trump continued by reversing the demand: "But that's an interesting idea, because I am now similarly demanding compensation from Iran, for all the people they have killed and badly wounded with their roadside bombs and the many conflicts they are famous for, as originally led by General Soleimani, including families of those killed on the USS Cole, and thousands of others killed in battle."
The president also referenced the Iranian regime's treatment of its own citizens, stating: "In addition, compensation must be paid for the innocent protesters that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 killed in the last 5 months. I have instructed my representatives to strongly insert this into any future negotiations."
