Trump Demands Iran Reparations as Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed — War Enters Sixth Month

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The U.S.-Iran war has now entered its sixth month, and President Donald Trump’s latest move is a rhetorical escalation that has analysts questioning whether diplomatic resolution is possible — and an apparent concession to constitutional reality regarding a third term.

Trump Demands Reparations from Iran

In a Truth Social post on August 11, Trump issued a counter-demand for financial compensation from Iran, responding to Tehran’s own conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz .

“I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five-month Military Conflict, even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings!” Trump wrote. “I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts.”

The U.S. compensation demand includes a 1983 bombing that killed 241 U.S. military personnel at a Marine compound in Beirut and the deaths of at least 603 U.S. troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2011 . Trump also demanded reparations for “the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years” .

Iran’s Position:

Tehran has made clear that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless Washington accepts its conditions . The Iranian Embassy in Tunisia listed 19 alleged U.S. actions against Iran, including the July 3, 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by a U.S. Navy cruiser .

The Iranian Embassy in South Africa said the U.S. should compensate Iran for “more than seven decades of hostile actions, interference and exploitation, including coups, sanctions, the downing of an Iranian passenger plane over the Persian Gulf” .

The USS Cole Reality Check:

U.S. analysts note that Trump’s claim regarding USS Cole compensation is misplaced — the October 2000 bombing of the Navy destroyer in Yemen’s port of Aden was attributed by the FBI to al-Qaida, not Iran .

Trump Claims “Total Control” of Strait, Iran Says “Remains Closed”

Trump declared Wednesday that the U.S. has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, calling the ongoing U.S. naval blockade a “wall of steel” and declaring that “Iran is powerless to do anything about it” .

The U.S. Position: The U.S. Central Command said American forces continued enforcing a maritime blockade against Iran. As of August 12, the operation had forced 59 commercial vessels to reroute, disabled three vessels and boarded two others for inspections .

Iran’s Response: Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Management Authority rejected Trump’s claim, stating: “The Strait of Hormuz remains closed and will not be reopened unless the United States accepts the conditions proposed by Iran” .

Escalation in Rhetoric: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for dialogue and negotiations to reach a comprehensive settlement . But experts note that repeated shifts in position by both sides have eroded confidence in the prospect of swift breakthroughs .

Trump’s Third-Term Talk: “I Would Love to Run, But the Law Is Very Strict”

As the war drags on, Trump has also been fueling speculation about his political future beyond 2028 — while simultaneously acknowledging the constitutional barrier .

What He Said:

During a recent rally, Trump responded to crowd chants of “2028” by telling reporters:

“I would love to run, but the law is very strict.”

The Reality:

Under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Trump was elected in 2016 and 2024 — he cannot run for a third term without a constitutional amendment, which would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. Some have suggested Trump could run as vice president and have the president resign, but the 12th Amendment also prohibits anyone ineligible for the presidency from serving as vice president .

Why He’s Doing It:

Analysts suggest Trump’s “2028” talk serves a larger political strategy. First, it ties the hands of potential Republican successors by signaling that the MAGA base remains his . Second, it drives turnout for the 2026 midterms by framing the election as a fight to preserve his agenda . Third, it pressures potential successors like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio to stay loyal to his “America First” agenda .

The Danger for Democrats: If Trump’s base believes there’s a path to a third term, they’ll be highly motivated to turn out in November.

White House Press Secretary Leavitt to Depart

President Trump announced Wednesday that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August . Leavitt, the youngest person ever to serve in the role, is leaving “so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family” .

Trump said she will remain “one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections” .

The Bottom Line

The Iran war has now dragged on for six months. Trump’s demand for reparations is a rhetorical escalation that has analysts questioning whether diplomatic resolution is possible. Iran has made clear the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless Washington accepts its conditions. Meanwhile, Trump has acknowledged the constitutional barrier to a third term even as his “2028” talk keeps the MAGA base engaged.

For working families, the war continues to take a toll. Gas prices remain above $4 a gallon. Grocery bills have surged. A recent AP-NORC poll showed Trump’s approval rating at 33% — his lowest since returning to office, with 66% disapproval . The war has cost each household more than $3,100 since 2025. And with the midterms less than 90 days away, the economic pain is a political liability Trump is struggling to overcome.

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