Trump says future maritime damages will be paid by US-controlled Iranian assets
Washington, July 24
US President Donald Trump said that any future damages to ships, cargo or related property will be paid using Iranian funds held under US control.
"Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do," Trump wrote.
The US president did not specify what types of incidents would qualify for cases to use Iranian assets, Xinhua news agency reported.
The remarks came as the United States continued airstrikes against Iran amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Earlier, Trump has said that Iran was "not ready to make a deal" over its nuclear programme despite suffering heavy military pressure, asserting that Tehran continued to change its negotiating position even as the United States remained determined to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Paying tribute to four American service members killed in the conflict with Iran, Trump, at a campaign-style rally in Georgia on Wednesday (local time), defended his administration's military and diplomatic approach towards Tehran while portraying the confrontation as part of a broader effort to restore American strength abroad.
"The stock market has set -- and that's what this skirmish we have going on. I call it a skirmish. This is what this skirmish we have with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said.
"This is despite this, it's going on. The stock market has hit 73 all-time highs since the election," he added, linking the military confrontation with what he described as continued economic confidence in the United States.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Washington's audacity knows no bounds! 😤 They're literally saying, "We'll take your money and decide what to do with it." This is classic big-bully diplomacy. India has been through similar pressures—remember the sanctions threats? We need to stand firm with Iran here, not as a political ally, but because principles matter. Otherwise, it's might makes right, and that's a dangerous world for middle powers and developing nations.
Interesting move by Trump—he's framing this as "fair and equitable," but is it really? The US is the one escalating airstrikes, and now they want Iran to foot the bill for any maritime damages that might occur. This is like a landlord burning your house down and charging you for the smoke damage. India should be worried about the precedent this sets for unilateral asset seizures in global affairs. Diplomacy, not brinkmanship!
As someone who follows geopolitics, this is classic Trump—unpredictable and unilateral. He's basically taking Iranian assets hostage and saying "pay up for anything that happens." The problem is, who determines what counts as damage? If a US ship hits a reef, will Iran be billed? This is a recipe for endless conflict. India should be vocal about respecting international maritime law and sovereignty.
This is honestly frightening. 😰 Trump treats international relations like a business deal—"you break it, you buy it." Except here, the US is both the judge and the one doing the "breaking" with airstrikes. Iran's economy is already crippled from sanctions. Using their frozen assets to pay for damages from US military actions is just rubbing salt in the wound. India has always advocated for dialogue over coercion. We should raise this at the UN.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.