Trump rejects Iran's payout demand and unveils a dramatic counterclaim

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said the United States will now seek compensation from Iran in all future negotiations, responding directly to Tehran's recent demand for reparations by instructing US officials to pursue American claims instead.

In a Truth Social post on Monday, August 10, Trump rejected Iran's request for compensation over damage sustained during the recent five-month military conflict, saying the issue had "never been mentioned" during previous negotiations or meetings.

Instead, he said US negotiators would seek compensation from Tehran for Americans killed or wounded in attacks linked to Iran and for what he described as decades of violence carried out by the Iranian regime.

Trump turns demand on Tehran

Trump said Iran's request for compensation prompted the United States to adopt its own position ahead of future talks.

"I now am likewise demanding compensation from Iran," Trump wrote. 

He said the demand would cover Americans killed and injured in roadside bomb attacks, victims of conflicts he attributed to Gen Qassem Soleimani, and the families of those killed in the 2000 USS Cole bombing.

He also wrote, "Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months."

The post marked the first time Trump publicly said reparations would become an official US negotiating position.

Compensation becomes US demand

Trump said he has already instructed US negotiators to formally raise the issue of compensation in all future talks with Iran.

"I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations," he wrote.