Trump Adds Iran Compensation Demand to Stalled Hormuz Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said on August 10, 2026, that he would demand compensation from Iran for deaths and injuries he attributes to Tehran and allied forces, adding a new obstacle to negotiations aimed at ending the five-month war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

In posts on Truth Social, Trump framed the demand as a response to Iranian negotiators seeking damages from the conflict. He said compensation should cover U.S. personnel harmed in earlier attacks and also extended the demand to victims in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza. The claims and figures in his statements have not been independently established.

The demand comes as talks over the strait remain unresolved. Before the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, roughly one-fifth of global oil trade passed through the waterway, making its reopening central to efforts to ease pressure on energy markets.

Trump has repeatedly suggested an agreement was close, but no deal has been announced. The new compensation issue is likely to deepen the gap between Washington and Tehran, whose leaders have also sought reparations for damage caused during the war.

The diplomatic strain is unfolding alongside setbacks in other U.S.-backed Middle East initiatives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point plan for Gaza on August 9, insisting that Hamas disarm before Israel considers withdrawing rather than following the plan’s proposed phased approach.

Trump said on August 10 that his relationship with Netanyahu remained “very good,” but he did not publicly resolve the disagreement. Together, the disputes underline the difficulty of securing parallel agreements on Iran, Gaza and regional security.