▲ U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump fired back on the 10th (local time) regarding Iran's demand for war reparations, asserting that Iran itself must pay damages for past terrorist attacks and the killing of protesters within its own country.
President Trump stated this on social media platform Truth Social, saying, "Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are demanding reparations for damages incurred from the military clashes over the past five months."
This appears to be a response to a statement released through Iranian state media on the 8th by Ali Mohammad Bagheri Zolqadr, Secretary-General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), which outlined six demands for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In the statement, Iran demanded the lifting of maritime blockades and sanctions, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from areas surrounding Iran, and compensation for damages resulting from "two wars of aggression."
President Trump remarked, "That (demand for reparations) has never been mentioned in any of our negotiations or talks," but added, "However, it is an interesting thought, because now I am likewise demanding reparations from Iran."
He stated that he demands "compensation for everyone killed or maimed by Iran through roadside bombs and notorious conflicts," noting that "this was initially led by General Soleimani (who was killed by the U.S. military in 2020)."
He also added, "This includes the grieving families of those who died on the USS Cole, as well as thousands of others who died in combat."
The USS Cole bombing incident mentioned by President Trump refers to the attack on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole in Yemen in 2000, which killed 17 service members.
At the time, it was determined to have been an attack by al-Qaeda.
President Trump stated, "In addition to this, reparations must also be paid to the grieving families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protesters killed by Iran over the past 50 years," adding, "Not to mention the 52,000 (Iranian protesters) who died over the past five months."
President Trump emphasized, "I have instructed my (negotiating) representatives to firmly raise this issue in all future negotiations."
The likelihood of Iran accepting President Trump's demands appears small.
Therefore, it is read as a context of rejecting Iran's demand for reparations.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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