WASHINGTON/DUBAI — The United States is reportedly exploring options to use or redirect Iranian assets to help fund reconstruction and repair efforts in Gulf countries affected by recent regional attacks, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
The source said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has directed a review to estimate the cost of damages sustained by U.S. allies in the Gulf following Iranian-linked strikes. The assessment, according to the same source, could potentially inform future policy options involving Iranian assets, including those currently frozen under U.S. sanctions.
There has been no official confirmation from the U.S. Treasury Department regarding the reported review or any decision to redirect Iranian funds.
The development comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to manage tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of intermittent hostilities in the region. Iranian officials have previously called for access to frozen assets as part of broader discussions on sanctions relief, though details and figures cited in various reports have not been independently verified.
Separately, reports from international media have indicated continued military activity in parts of the Gulf and surrounding regions in recent days. However, most of these accounts have not been independently confirmed by major international wire agencies or official government statements at the time of writing.
Claims of missile exchanges involving facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as reported strikes in areas near the Strait of Hormuz, have circulated through multiple channels. Authorities in affected countries have issued varying statements, but a comprehensive, independently verified account of events has not yet been established.
In Lebanon, border-area incidents were also reported, including projectile interceptions and a reported Israeli strike on a military vehicle, though details remain subject to confirmation by official defense sources.
Analysts caution that ongoing information gaps and conflicting claims underscore the volatility of the situation and the difficulty of verifying real-time developments in multiple active conflict zones.
Meanwhile, global energy markets continue to monitor the situation closely, with analysts noting that sustained instability in the region could contribute to price volatility and broader economic pressures.
Diplomatic engagement among regional and international actors is continuing, with mediators seeking to prevent further escalation and preserve fragile communication channels between key parties.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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