United States President Donald Trump has demanded compensation from Iran, claiming the country caused damages over the past 50 years. This demand comes as Tehran has stated it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless Washington agrees to pay war reparations and lift sanctions.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, August 11th, 2026, Trump framed the compensation demand as a direct response to Iran's conditions. He said the payments would cover deaths among US forces in the region as well as civilian protesters in Iran, claiming that 52,000 people have been killed in Iran in the past four months.

However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported in February approximately 7,000 deaths, including 6,500 protesters, highlighting discrepancies in casualty figures.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the US-Israel war on Iran. Tehran has linked the reopening of this strategic passage to receiving war reparations and the end of sanctions imposed by Washington.

Meanwhile, US Central Command announced on the same day that since reinstating the blockade in July, it has redirected 55 commercial vessels and disabled at least two.

These developments occur amid ongoing tensions and negotiations involving Iran, the US, and other regional actors.

Sources