Trump says US will use frozen Iranian assets to compensate for ship damage

US President Donald Trump has said in a Truth Social post that any damage caused to commercial vessels or cargo would be compensated using Iranian assets frozen in the United States.

“Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls. These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do,” Trump wrote.

Responding to Trump’s statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that seizing assets to compensate for shipping-related damage would set an “incendiary precedent.”

“Those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalize confiscation, no one’s assets are safe. Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful,” Araghchi noted.