US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States will begin utilizing frozen Iranian assets to compensate for ships and cargo damaged by strikes in and around the Persian Gulf.
The statement marks a significant shift in how Washington intends to handle the financial fallout from military operations in the region, moving beyond diplomatic assurances to direct asset utilization.
The move comes as markets have recently seen Brent crude retreat to pre-war lows, reflecting a temporary normalization of shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the introduction of a compensation mechanism using seized assets underscores that the underlying risk to maritime trade remains elevated.
Traders and insurers will likely scrutinize the legal and operational details of this program, as it could influence war-risk premiums and freight rates in the corridor.
This development follows recent statements from US officials, including Vice President J.D.