Trump demands Iran pay compensation for victims, risking complications over Strait of Hormuz

Former U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Iran’s conditions for a ceasefire by demanding that Tehran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests — a move that could complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The demand, which had not been publicly stated before, came after Iran outlined terms that include a cessation of hostilities, wartime reparations and removal of sanctions. Those conditions largely mirror elements of a preliminary peace deal signed in June.

Trump framed the claim as a broad call for monetary payments covering long-term harm. "We will ask for money for the damage they've done in the last 50 years. Payments will cover deaths both among civilian protestors and among U.S. forces in the region. So, if there are damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay them," Trump said.

Implications for the Strait of Hormuz

Analysts and diplomats say attaching a broadly defined compensation demand to a ceasefire increases the political and legal hurdles to a quick settlement. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint for global energy shipments, and any delay in implementing the terms that would secure safe passage risks renewed disruption.

Washington’s insistence on reparations could harden positions on both sides and complicate the technical steps needed to reopen shipping lanes and restore confidence among international insurers and shippers.

How the parties respond in the coming days will determine whether the preliminary agreement from June can be translated into a durable ceasefire and the practical reopening of the Strait, or whether these demands will prolong negotiations and regional tension.

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