Trump Orders Negotiators to Seek Compensation from Iran for US War Casualties

WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump has instructed his negotiating team to include compensation for American citizens killed or seriously injured during the war with Iran in any future agreement with Tehran.

In a statement on social media, Trump said he had learned that Iranian representatives were demanding compensation from the United States for the damage suffered by Iran during the five-month military conflict this year.

Trump said Iran had never raised such a demand during previous negotiations or meetings. “If Iran can demand compensation for its losses, the United States will do the same,” he said.

The US president said Washington would now seek compensation from Iran for all American citizens who were killed or seriously wounded in Iranian actions during the conflict.

Trump added that he had given his representatives clear instructions to include compensation demands in every future round of negotiations with Iran.

He also said Iran should be held responsible for human and financial losses in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza, and that the United States would seek compensation from Tehran for those damages as well.

Trump’s remarks came at a time when prospects for significant progress in US-Iran negotiations appear increasingly limited. Diplomatic efforts to maintain communication between the two countries have continued following months of military tensions, but major disagreements remain unresolved.

A day earlier, Trump had described US policy toward Iran as relatively cautious, saying Washington was maintaining lower-level and “semi-negotiations” with Tehran.

According to Trump, the United States is maintaining limited contacts with Iran rather than conducting full-scale, formal negotiations.