Trump: Iran's Frozen Assets Will Cover Damages to Attacked Ships
RastinewsUS President Donald Trump announced Sunday that damages to vessels attacked by Iran in the Gulf will be paid for out of frozen Iranian assets held in the United States.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said: "Consider this a notice: from this moment forward, and until further notice, any and all damage done to ships, cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for out of Iranian assets held and controlled by the United States."
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi hit back sharply at the US decision on frozen Iranian assets: the outcome, he said, will be neither pretty nor peaceful.
Tehran wasted no time responding to Trump's statement that damages from attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be covered by frozen Iranian assets. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back on social media, writing: "Seizing a country's assets to pay for unrelated future claims sets an extremely dangerous precedent." He added: "Those who welcome or benefit from the seizure of a nation's assets should remember this: once governments normalize asset seizures, no one's assets are safe. The chaos that follows will be neither pretty nor peaceful."
TRUMP HAD POINTED TO IRAN'S FROZEN ASSETS TO COVER DAMAGES
In his Truth Social post, Trump had said that damage to ships attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, their cargo, or any related losses would be paid for, or collected, from frozen Iranian assets held by the United States. He said the policy would remain in effect until announced otherwise, adding: "These damages can be very substantial, but I believe this is the fair and equitable way to go."