US President Donald Trump has said the United States will demand compensation from Iran for Americans killed or seriously injured in Iranian operations if Tehran seeks damages for losses suffered during the recent military conflict.
In a social media statement, Trump said Iranian representatives had raised the issue of compensation for damage caused during the past five months of military conflict.
According to Trump, however, compensation had not previously been discussed during negotiations or meetings.
Calling the demand an "interesting idea", Trump said the United States would now raise its own compensation claims against Iran.
He said Washington would seek compensation for people killed or injured in Iranian operations, roadside bomb attacks and other conflicts.
Trump invokes Soleimani and USS Cole attack
Trump also referred to former Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, saying Iranian operations had been led by Soleimani and others.
He said the US compensation claims would include the families of those killed in the USS Cole attack, as well as families of other people who died in military operations.
The USS Cole, a US Navy destroyer, was attacked by suicide bombers in Yemen in October 2000, killing 17 American sailors and injuring dozens of others.
Trump raises claims over protests in Iran
Trump further said compensation should be paid to the families of people killed during protests in Iran over the past five decades.
He claimed that 52,000 people had been killed in Iran during the past five months, although the figure was presented by Trump and was not independently substantiated in the statement.
Trump said he had instructed US representatives to firmly include the compensation issue in any future negotiations with Tehran.
