US has a history of imposing costs on other nations in conflicts

White House Confirms Potential for Arab Nations to Bear Cost of Iran War

The White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump is considering asking Arab nations to cover the cost of a potential war on Iran. According to Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the White House, Trump “would be quite interested” in exploring this option.

Leavitt stated that the idea is similar to how US allies helped fund Washington’s intervention during the Gulf War in 1990. The US has also indicated that it may be satisfied with bringing the war to a close even without reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed shortly after the war began at the end of February.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, accounting for about 20 percent of world production. The closure has led to significant price increases in Brent crude oil, with prices reaching $116 per barrel this week compared to around $65 before the war began.

Tehran has stated that the US should pay reparations to compensate victims of the war in Iran as a condition for any ceasefire to take effect. However, there is currently no indication from Middle Eastern governments about their willingness to help fund the war.

Analysts have noted that the overall cost of the potential conflict could run into tens of billions of dollars. Some experts believe that Israel should bear the costs, given its close relationship with the US and its role in convincing Washington to take military action against Iran.

The White House has not provided further details on the proposal or its potential implications.

Source: Al Jazeera