JERUSALEM, Israel – President Trump is demanding reparations from Iran for what he claims is nearly a half-century of terrorism and violence. The demand comes as the U.S. maintains its military pressure on Iran and highlights its close cooperation with Israel.
The president’s call for reparations came in the Oval Office on Monday after Iran demanded compensation for damage caused during the last six months of war.
“Well, we’re going to ask for money for that damage they’ve done over a 50-year period, whether you go SS Cole or whether you go all of the people that were so badly hurt, so badly wounded or killed, many thousands of people, and maybe damages for the 52,000 protesters over the last four months that were killed in Iran,” Trump declared.
Tehran also warned that the Strait of Hormuz would not be safe until the United States ends its naval blockade. Trump responded that the U.S. Navy now has complete control of the strategic waterway.
“We have a blockade that’s been infallible,” he insisted. “It’s a steel wall. And we let people in that we want to let in and those people come in. They’ve been coming in and they’re going out. So it’s actually open now.”
He continued, “We do not let them go into Iran. They’re not admitted into the Strait to go to Iran, but it’s open for others now … we’ve mine-swept the entire Strait, as you probably, maybe, heard – maybe you didn’t hear – but but we control the Strait 100 percent.”
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Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that a credible Iranian assassination threat led the U.S. Secret Service to use an elaborate deception to get President Trump safely out of Turkey following the NATO Summit. last month.
According to the report, Trump appeared to board Air Force One, but exited through a catering truck before department on a smaller U.S. Air Force aircraft.
Amid the Iran threats and counter-threats, the U.S. is signaling that its military partnership with Israel has never been stronger. Addressing a closed forum of senior Israeli officers, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper declared that the United States and Israel had “achieved the unimaginable together, and he added, “We have a high and enduring commitment to you.”
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the relationship”unprecedented” and a “strategic anchor” as he cautioned that Israel must remain ready for a rapid return to high-intensity warfare.
