President Donald Trump turned Iran’s demand for war reparations back on the Islamic regime, declaring that Tehran should instead compensate the United States and the families of those harmed by its actions over the past five decades.

“If there are damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“They asked for reparations,” the president continued. “Well, we’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50-year period.”

Iran reportedly made compensation for wartime damage one of its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, along with demands that Washington lift sanctions, release frozen Iranian assets and end military pressure on Tehran.

The strategically vital waterway carried approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas before its closure amid the ongoing conflict. Efforts to negotiate its reopening have remained stalled as both Washington and Tehran impose competing conditions.

Trump responded by calling for Iran to compensate Americans killed or seriously wounded in attacks and conflicts he blamed on the regime and its terrorist proxies.

“All of the people that were so badly hurt, so badly wounded or killed, many thousands of people,” Trump said.

For decades, Iran has armed, trained and funded terrorist organizations across the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis. Tehran has also been accused of supporting attacks that killed or wounded American troops throughout the region.

Trump expanded his demand to include compensation for the families of Iranians killed during the regime’s violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations.

“We think their families should get damages for killing their person, or their child, or mother, father that were protesting,” he said.

The president cited an estimated 52,000 protesters killed in recent months. That figure was presented as Trump’s estimate and has not been independently verified.

Trump said the demand for compensation should be raised during any future negotiations with Tehran, effectively turning the regime’s reparations ultimatum against it.

Iran demanded that America pay for the war. Trump’s response was unmistakable: After nearly 50 years of terrorism, bloodshed and brutal repression, Tehran should be the one paying.