ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran on Friday censured as an "incendiary precedent" a proposal by US President Donald Trump to use frozen Iranian assets under his country's control to pay for damages caused to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning it would put any country's assets at risk.
"Seizing another nation's assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on X.
"Those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalize confiscation, no one's assets are safe," he warned, adding that "the ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful."
The remarks came shortly after US President Trump posted a statement on Truth Social saying, "Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls."
"These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump added.
The escalation in rhetoric comes as CENTCOM reported that its forces completed a thirteenth consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Friday.
In a separate statement, the Command said that since the naval blockade against Iran resumed nine days ago, its forces have "redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas."
The latest round of escalation between Iran and the US began on July 8 and entered its eighteenth day on Friday, with Araghchi declaring Wednesday, "Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye."
Tehran's chief diplomat added that "any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response," warning further that "those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered legitimate targets."
Similarly, Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned Wednesday that no regional country will be able to sell its oil if Tehran is barred from doing so, nor will its infrastructure be safe if Iranian security is not ensured.
The escalatory rhetoric from Iranian officials followed vows by US President Trump to strike a bridge and power plant for every vessel Iran's military attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, along with threats to "absolutely attack" a new nuclear facility Iran is allegedly building in central Isfahan province.
