Trump threatens to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for shipping damage

US President Donald Trump threatened to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for damage to ships and cargo in and around the Gulf.

"Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that 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 wrote on Truth social.

In response to Trump's statement, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday the seizure of the assets to pay for shipping damage was an "incendiary precedent".

"Seizing another nation's assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent," Araghchi wrote on Friday.

"Those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalise confiscation, no one's assets are safe. Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful," he added.

The latest exchange comes as the United States launched a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting military and commercial sites.