Media: US seeks to assist Persian Gulf allies using Iranian assets

Washington (ANTARA) - The United States plans to provide its allies in the Persian Gulf with the opportunity to use Iranian assets to cover damages caused during Middle East conflicts, according to a Reuters report citing a source on Sunday. According to the report, the US will make Iranian assets available to its Persian Gulf allies to support their reconstruction and provide compensation for damages they may suffer in the future. The US will also consider using these assets to repair previous damages, the Reuters report stated. On 28 February, the US and Israel began attacking targets in Iran, including Tehran. On the first day of the attacks, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed. On 8 April, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Since then, there have been no reports of hostilities resuming, but the US has initiated a blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile, as negotiations between Iran and the US continue, with recent discussions regarding a framework agreement memorandum of understanding, both sides continue to launch occasional attacks against one another. The US military has described its strikes as an effort to enforce a maritime blockade against Iran and as an act of ‘self-defence,’ while Tehran has claimed it will retaliate.