US President Donald Trump has demanded compensation from Iran as talks over the Strait of Hormuz face new problems. His demand came after Iran asked the United States to pay for damage caused by the war.
The new dispute has added another issue to already difficult talks. It could also increase economic pressure on Tehran as both sides try to gain more from a possible peace deal.
Trump said the United States would seek payment from Iran for deaths and damage linked to Iranian actions over the past 50 years. He made the comments while speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday.
The demand was a direct response to Iran’s call for war reparations. Tehran has said the Strait of Hormuz should not fully reopen unless Washington meets several conditions.
Iran wants payment for war damage. It also wants an end to US sanctions. These demands have become key parts of its position in talks over the waterway.
Trump has rejected those terms. Instead, he has put forward a financial demand of his own.
The US president said Iran had asked for money because of damage caused by the United States. He said Washington would also seek money from Tehran for damage that Iran had caused over many years.
The exchange shows how economic issues are now central to the negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes. It links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Large amounts of oil and gas move through the waterway.
Before the current crisis, about one fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the strait. Any long disruption can therefore affect energy markets around the world.
Oil prices have already moved higher as hopes for a quick deal have weakened. Brent crude reached about $88 a barrel on Tuesday, while US crude rose above $82. Traders are watching the talks closely because a reopening of the strait could ease pressure on global energy supplies.
Higher oil prices can have a wide economic effect. Fuel costs can rise for drivers and businesses. Shipping can also become more costly. Higher energy costs can then push up the price of goods.
This gives both Washington and Tehran strong economic reasons to seek a deal. But their current demands remain far apart.
For Iran, sanctions relief is a major goal. US sanctions have placed limits on Iranian trade and access to global finance. Tehran sees the removal of those limits as an important part of any wider agreement.
For Trump, economic pressure is a key tool in dealing with Iran. His compensation demand adds another financial issue to the talks.
The demand could put more pressure on Tehran to make concessions. But it could also make negotiations harder if Iran refuses to accept the US position.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the main point of concern. A deal that allows normal shipping to resume could help calm oil markets. It could also reduce pressure on businesses that depend on the waterway.
Oman is involved in efforts to keep the talks moving. The country has been used as a channel for communication between Iran and the United States.
Still, the latest statements suggest that the path to an agreement remains difficult.
Iran wants Washington to accept its demands before the strait returns to normal. Trump is instead asking Iran to accept financial responsibility for what he says are decades of damage.
That creates a wider dispute over money, responsibility and the terms of peace.
The economic cost could grow if the dispute continues. Oil markets may remain unstable. Higher energy prices could also increase pressure on countries that rely on imported fuel.
For Iran, continued economic pressure could make the cost of a long standoff higher. For the United States, however, a prolonged crisis also creates risks because global energy prices remain sensitive to events around Hormuz.
Trump’s compensation demand has therefore become more than a response to Iran’s request. It is now part of the wider pressure campaign against Tehran.
The next stage of talks will show whether the two sides can move past their competing demands. A deal could help reopen the key waterway and reduce market fears.
Without a deal, the dispute may continue to weigh on Iran’s economy and global energy markets.
For now, Trump’s demand has raised the financial stakes of the negotiations and added another challenge to efforts to resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
