President Donald Trump has sharpened his rhetoric over Iran’s demands in talks linked to the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Tehran should pay compensation for deaths and damage caused by decades of conflict and unrest, a move that appears to have complicated fragile efforts to restore a shipping arrangement through the strategic waterway.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said the United States would seek payment for what he described as harm inflicted over “a 50-ye...
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ar period”, framing his response as a counter to Iranian calls for sanctions relief, reparations and an end to military pressure. The president’s remarks came as oil prices rose and market confidence in a near-term breakthrough weakened.
Iran has been pushing for compensation and the lifting of sanctions as part of a broader understanding with Oman over navigation through the strait, according to reports from Axios and The Week. Iranian officials have said discussions are in their final stages, but they also insist no reopening will take place until Washington meets a series of conditions, including an end to the war and the release of frozen assets.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, typically carrying about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Since the conflict began, shipping through the narrow channel has been heavily disrupted, contributing to higher energy prices and inflationary pressure.
Trump linked his demands not only to the current war but also to earlier episodes of violence, including the deaths of American sailors in the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. He also posted on Truth Social that Iran should be held responsible for damage and deaths in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza. Yet the USS Cole attack has long been attributed to al Qaeda, not Iran, underlining the political and historical complexity surrounding his comments.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that negotiations with Oman were “progressing smoothly and constructively”, while acknowledging some technical issues remained unresolved. According to reports, the talks have included possible services such as safe navigation, environmental protection and maritime policing, alongside the drawing of shipping lanes that would split control of the route without imposing tolls.
That prospect has already drawn resistance in Washington. US officials have repeatedly rejected any arrangement that would allow Tehran to levy fees for passage, and earlier military pressure, including a campaign of strikes in July, did not force Iran to abandon its grip on the corridor. Trump has claimed the strait is open and said the US Navy alone controls it, but that assertion has been disputed by the continuing blockade and by Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping and regional interests.
The diplomatic push comes amid wider pressure on Trump to end a war that is unpopular with parts of the American public and increasingly tied to fuel costs at home. AP reported that the administration is seeking an exit from the conflict even as it continues to enforce maritime restrictions and confront attacks by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in the Red Sea.
Axios has reported that the proposed understanding between the US, Iran and Oman could take the form of a temporary 60-day arrangement, with mediation involving Qatar, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as well. Such a deal would not amount to a full peace settlement, but it could ease tensions around one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes and reopen a path towards wider talks.
For now, however, the exchange of demands suggests little trust between the sides. Trump has signalled a willingness to intensify economic pressure rather than launch a fresh military campaign, but he has also kept military options available. Iran, meanwhile, appears intent on using its leverage over the strait to extract concessions that Washington has so far shown no inclination to accept.
Source: Noah Wire Services
