Washington, 24 July (H.S.):

US President Donald Trump has announced that frozen Iranian assets held under American control will be used to compensate for damages caused to ships, cargo and related maritime property following recent strikes in and around the Gulf region.

In a statement posted on his social media platform, Trump said that all damages involving ships, cargo and associated maritime assets would be paid for using Iranian funds currently frozen and controlled by the United States.

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, Trump said in his message.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where attacks and security concerns have disrupted maritime activities and raised concerns over the safety of international shipping routes.

The US administration has previously imposed sanctions on Iran and frozen Iranian financial assets as part of broader measures linked to disputes over Tehran's regional activities and nuclear programme.

Trump's latest statement did not provide details on the exact amount of frozen Iranian assets that would be used, the mechanism for compensation, or how affected shipping companies would apply for payments.

The move is expected to draw a strong response from Tehran, which has repeatedly criticised US sanctions and the freezing of Iranian funds abroad, describing such actions as unlawful.

The Gulf region remains a critical route for global energy and trade shipments, and any escalation involving major shipping lanes could have wider economic implications for international markets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar