Trump demands Iran pay compensation for USS Cole victims and others killed in combat
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on August 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is expected to sign two executive orders on bringing computer chip manufacturing to the U.S. and denying bi
President Donald Trump is now demanding Iran pay compensation for the families of those killed in the bombing of the USS Cole and thousands of others who have been killed in combat and in protest against Iran.
The other side:
Trump’s demand comes in response to Iran’s own request for compensation for damages done to them over the past five months since the start of the war in Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran said they were nearing a deal with Oman to define new shipping lanes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but added that the U.S. must meet their list of demands, including compensation for damages and an end to sanctions and military threats.
What they're saying:
President Trump posted to Truth Social Wednesday his counter to their compensation demand saying, "Now I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded," directly referencing families of those killed on the USS Cole.
"Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months," he added.
Trump via Truth Social
Big picture view:
The United States and Iran have been going back and forth to negotiate a deal to end hostilities between the two nations. The U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran, looking to accomplish several goals, including ending their nuclear program and toppling their government. Another major sticking point has also shifted to a fight over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil routes, which Iran closed after the conflict began.
Economic pressure has continued to mount for a resolution that would reopen the strait, while competing demands for compensation could further potentially complicate negotiations.
RELATED: Iran reveals demands as 60-day peace talks window winds down
The bombing of the USS Cole
The backstory:
In October 2000, suicide bombers detonated a boat full of explosives alongside of the USS Cole while it was making a fueling stop just off shore in Yemen. The bombing ripped a 40-foot wide hole in the ship’s hull, killing 17 sailors and injuring dozens more.
Dig deeper:
In the years following the attack, the FBI identified al Qaeda as responsible for the USS Cole bombing. President Trump, however, has pointed to Iran as a proxy behind the attack and other acts of violence as part of his broader justification for the war.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Reuters and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.