War reparations

AMONGST Iran’s conditions in the 10-point plan Tehran forwarded to the US as part of the ceasefire was a demand for compensation for the damage inflicted on the country by America and Israel on Feb 28.

As per reports, the issue of war reparations was also brought up during the recent negotiations in Islamabad. Many international law experts say that the US, prima facie, is liable to pay Iran compensation, especially where attacks on its civilian infrastructure are concerned. The extent of damage is considerable.

The American media itself has identified the large number of civilian targets attacked. For example, The New York Times has verified damage to nearly 40 schools and healthcare facilities that have been hit. The paper notes that this may only be a “fraction of the devastation”.

As per the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 763 schools and 316 health centres are amongst the targets hit by the US-Israeli combo. Perhaps the most monstrous attack of this campaign was the strike on a school in Minab, which killed around 175 people, mostly schoolgirls. The US military’s preliminary investigations indicate that their forces were responsible for this atrocity, due to the use of “outdated information”.

American military representatives have said they do not intentionally target civilians, while the Israeli military says it operates as per the “law of armed conflict”, taking maximum precautions. Considering what the Zionist war machine has done in Gaza and Lebanon, there is not a grain of truth in the latter claim. Moreover, many legal experts, including Americans, have said that international law has been violated in this war.

While on paper the American military is subject to robust checks and balances to ensure that the rules of engagement are followed within the bounds of humanitarian law, the US war secretary has thrown many of these safeguards out of the window, terming them “stupid”. If this is the philosophy guiding his military, violations and atrocities are to be expected.

If the US wants to convince the Iranians it is sincere about making a long-lasting deal, it is morally bound to address Tehran’s claims about war reparations. A figure of $270bn has been quoted. While the exact assessment of the war damage may take time, the American administration should commit to making payments for the massive destruction it has caused in Iran, as it is the aggressor in this conflict, and in numerous instances displayed a clear lack of concern for civilian life.

Israel, meanwhile, only respects the law of the jungle and cannot be expected to adhere to international law. Perhaps Washington can divert the billions it sends to arm the Zionist state annually towards the reconstruction of Iran’s schools, hospitals and universities.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2026