diff --git a/prusti-common/src/vir/to_viper.rs b/prusti-common/src/vir/to_viper.rs
index 6436efbfeb8..ecf3e9d5f7e 100644
--- a/prusti-common/src/vir/to_viper.rs
+++ b/prusti-common/src/vir/to_viper.rs
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ impl<'v> ToViper<'v, viper::Stmt<'v>> for Stmt {
                 assert!(!pos.is_default(), "stmt with default pos: {self}");
                 ast.exhale(expr.to_viper(context, ast), pos.to_viper(context, ast))
             }
+            Stmt::Assume(ref expr, ref pos) => {
+                ast.assume(expr.to_viper(context, ast), pos.to_viper(context, ast))
+            }
             Stmt::Assert(ref expr, ref pos) => {
                 ast.assert(expr.to_viper(context, ast), pos.to_viper(context, ast))
             }
diff --git a/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/requirements.rs b/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/requirements.rs
index cd22aaba51c..5e63c7269ce 100644
--- a/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/requirements.rs
+++ b/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/requirements.rs
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ impl RequiredStmtPermissionsGetter for vir::Stmt {
                 ref expr,
                 ref position,
             })
+            | &vir::Stmt::Assume(vir::Assume {
+                ref expr,
+                ref position,
+            })
             | &vir::Stmt::Assert(vir::Assert {
                 ref expr,
                 ref position,
diff --git a/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/semantics.rs b/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/semantics.rs
index 85a92ba18a7..e33790aaddb 100644
--- a/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/semantics.rs
+++ b/prusti-viper/src/encoder/foldunfold/semantics.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ impl ApplyOnState for vir::Stmt {
         match self {
             &vir::Stmt::Comment(_)
             | &vir::Stmt::Label(_)
+            | &vir::Stmt::Assume(_)
             | &vir::Stmt::Assert(_)
             | &vir::Stmt::Refute(_)
             | &vir::Stmt::Obtain(_) => {}
diff --git a/prusti-viper/src/encoder/procedure_encoder.rs b/prusti-viper/src/encoder/procedure_encoder.rs
index aad32703d27..5cbac026b21 100644
--- a/prusti-viper/src/encoder/procedure_encoder.rs
+++ b/prusti-viper/src/encoder/procedure_encoder.rs
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ impl<'p, 'v: 'p, 'tcx: 'v> ProcedureEncoder<'p, 'v, 'tcx> {
                 }
                 let assume_expr = self.encoder.encode_invariant(self.mir, bb, self.proc_def_id, cl_substs)?;
 
-                let assume_stmt = vir::Stmt::inhale(assume_expr, vir::Position::default());
+                let assume_stmt = vir::Stmt::assume(assume_expr, vir::Position::default());
                 encoded_statements.push(assume_stmt);
 
                 return Ok(true);
diff --git a/viper-sys/build.rs b/viper-sys/build.rs
index 01779ff4991..04665c0df51 100644
--- a/viper-sys/build.rs
+++ b/viper-sys/build.rs
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ fn main() {
                 object_getter!(),
                 method!("pretty", "(Lviper/silver/ast/Node;)Ljava/lang/String;")
             ]),
+            java_class!("viper.silver.ast.utility.ImpureAssumeRewriter", vec![
+                method!("rewriteAssumes"),
+            ]),
             java_class!("viper.silver.ast.AbstractAssign$", vec![
                 object_getter!(),
                 method!("apply"),
@@ -226,6 +229,9 @@ fn main() {
             java_class!("viper.silver.ast.Assert", vec![
                 constructor!(),
             ]),
+            java_class!("viper.silver.ast.Assume", vec![
+                constructor!(),
+            ]),
             java_class!("viper.silver.plugin.standard.refute.Refute", vec![
                 constructor!(),
             ]),
diff --git a/viper/src/ast_factory/statement.rs b/viper/src/ast_factory/statement.rs
index a2592f3539c..e6f43fe68fc 100644
--- a/viper/src/ast_factory/statement.rs
+++ b/viper/src/ast_factory/statement.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,16 @@ impl<'a> AstFactory<'a> {
         Stmt::new(obj)
     }
 
+    pub fn assume(&self, expr: Expr, pos: Position) -> Stmt<'a> {
+        let obj = self.jni.unwrap_result(ast::Assume::with(self.env).new(
+            expr.to_jobject(),
+            pos.to_jobject(),
+            self.no_info(),
+            self.no_trafos(),
+        ));
+        Stmt::new(obj)
+    }
+
     pub fn assert(&self, expr: Expr, pos: Position) -> Stmt<'a> {
         let obj = self.jni.unwrap_result(ast::Assert::with(self.env).new(
             expr.to_jobject(),
diff --git a/viper/src/ast_utils.rs b/viper/src/ast_utils.rs
index 55120e17539..5afdc822429 100644
--- a/viper/src/ast_utils.rs
+++ b/viper/src/ast_utils.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@ impl<'a> AstUtils<'a> {
             .map(|java_vec| self.jni.seq_to_vec(java_vec))
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn rewrite_impure_assumes(
+        &self,
+        program: Program<'a>,
+    ) -> Result<Program<'a>, JavaException> {
+        self.jni
+            .unwrap_or_exception(
+                silver::ast::utility::ImpureAssumeRewriter::with(self.env).call_rewriteAssumes(program.to_jobject()))
+            .map(|rewritten_prg_obj| Program::new(rewritten_prg_obj))
+    }
+
     #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip_all)]
     pub fn pretty_print(&self, program: Program<'a>) -> String {
         let fast_pretty_printer_wrapper =
diff --git a/viper/src/verifier.rs b/viper/src/verifier.rs
index ea39719ee72..23bfa3b299b 100644
--- a/viper/src/verifier.rs
+++ b/viper/src/verifier.rs
@@ -173,6 +173,14 @@ impl<'a> Verifier<'a> {
                 self.ast_utils.pretty_print(program)
             );
 
+            // verification backends rely on Silver first performing this rewrite of the Viper AST
+            let program = match self.ast_utils.rewrite_impure_assumes(program) {
+                Ok(prg) => prg,
+                Err(java_exception) => {
+                    return VerificationResult::JavaException(java_exception);
+                }
+            };
+
             run_timed!("Viper consistency checks", debug,
                 let consistency_errors = match self.ast_utils.check_consistency(program) {
                     Ok(errors) => errors,
@@ -194,7 +202,6 @@ impl<'a> Verifier<'a> {
                         .collect(),
                 );
             }
-
             let program_option = self.jni.new_option(Some(program.to_jobject()));
             self.jni.unwrap_result(self.frontend_wrapper.set___program(self.frontend_instance, program_option));
 
diff --git a/vir/defs/polymorphic/ast/stmt.rs b/vir/defs/polymorphic/ast/stmt.rs
index 4aa51d3463f..e8adb068b8f 100644
--- a/vir/defs/polymorphic/ast/stmt.rs
+++ b/vir/defs/polymorphic/ast/stmt.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ pub enum Stmt {
     Label(Label),
     Inhale(Inhale),
     Exhale(Exhale),
+    Assume(Assume),
     Assert(Assert),
     Refute(Refute),
     /// MethodCall: method_name, args, targets
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Stmt {
             Stmt::Label(label) => label.fmt(f),
             Stmt::Inhale(inhale) => inhale.fmt(f),
             Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => exhale.fmt(f),
+            Stmt::Assume(assume) => assume.fmt(f),
             Stmt::Assert(assert) => assert.fmt(f),
             Stmt::Refute(refute) => refute.fmt(f),
             Stmt::MethodCall(method_call) => method_call.fmt(f),
@@ -161,13 +163,19 @@ impl fmt::Display for Exhale {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
-pub struct Assert {
+pub struct Assume {
     pub expr: Expr,
     pub position: Position,
 }
 
+impl fmt::Display for Assume {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "assume {}", self.expr)
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
-pub struct Refute {
+pub struct Assert {
     pub expr: Expr,
     pub position: Position,
 }
@@ -178,6 +186,12 @@ impl fmt::Display for Assert {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
+pub struct Refute {
+    pub expr: Expr,
+    pub position: Position,
+}
+
 impl fmt::Display for Refute {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
         write!(f, "refute {}", self.expr)
@@ -512,6 +526,10 @@ impl Stmt {
         Stmt::Exhale(Exhale { expr, position })
     }
 
+    pub fn assume(expr: Expr, position: Position) -> Self {
+        Stmt::Assume(Assume { expr, position })
+    }
+
     pub fn package_magic_wand(
         lhs: Expr,
         rhs: Expr,
@@ -598,6 +616,7 @@ pub trait StmtFolder {
             Stmt::Label(label) => self.fold_label(label),
             Stmt::Inhale(inhale) => self.fold_inhale(inhale),
             Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => self.fold_exhale(exhale),
+            Stmt::Assume(assume) => self.fold_assume(assume),
             Stmt::Assert(assert) => self.fold_assert(assert),
             Stmt::Refute(refute) => self.fold_refute(refute),
             Stmt::MethodCall(method_call) => self.fold_method_call(method_call),
@@ -647,6 +666,15 @@ pub trait StmtFolder {
         })
     }
 
+    fn fold_assume(&mut self, statement: Assume) -> Stmt {
+        let Assume { expr, position } = statement;
+        Stmt::Assume(Assume {
+            expr: self.fold_expr(expr),
+            position,
+        })
+    }
+
+
     fn fold_assert(&mut self, statement: Assert) -> Stmt {
         let Assert { expr, position } = statement;
         Stmt::Assert(Assert {
@@ -817,6 +845,7 @@ pub trait FallibleStmtFolder {
             Stmt::Label(label) => self.fallible_fold_label(label),
             Stmt::Inhale(inhale) => self.fallible_fold_inhale(inhale),
             Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => self.fallible_fold_exhale(exhale),
+            Stmt::Assume(assume) => self.fallible_fold_assume(assume),
             Stmt::Assert(assert) => self.fallible_fold_assert(assert),
             Stmt::Refute(refute) => self.fallible_fold_refute(refute),
             Stmt::MethodCall(method_call) => self.fallible_fold_method_call(method_call),
@@ -870,6 +899,14 @@ pub trait FallibleStmtFolder {
         }))
     }
 
+    fn fallible_fold_assume(&mut self, statement: Assume) -> Result<Stmt, Self::Error> {
+        let Assume { expr, position } = statement;
+        Ok(Stmt::Assume(Assume {
+            expr: self.fallible_fold_expr(expr)?,
+            position,
+        }))
+    }
+
     fn fallible_fold_assert(&mut self, statement: Assert) -> Result<Stmt, Self::Error> {
         let Assert { expr, position } = statement;
         Ok(Stmt::Assert(Assert {
@@ -1069,6 +1106,7 @@ pub trait StmtWalker {
             Stmt::Label(label) => self.walk_label(label),
             Stmt::Inhale(inhale) => self.walk_inhale(inhale),
             Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => self.walk_exhale(exhale),
+            Stmt::Assume(assume) => self.walk_assume(assume),
             Stmt::Assert(assert) => self.walk_assert(assert),
             Stmt::Refute(refute) => self.walk_refute(refute),
             Stmt::MethodCall(method_call) => self.walk_method_call(method_call),
@@ -1108,6 +1146,11 @@ pub trait StmtWalker {
         self.walk_expr(expr);
     }
 
+    fn walk_assume(&mut self, statement: &Assume) {
+        let Assume { expr, .. } = statement;
+        self.walk_expr(expr);
+    }
+
     fn walk_assert(&mut self, statement: &Assert) {
         let Assert { expr, .. } = statement;
         self.walk_expr(expr);
@@ -1228,6 +1271,7 @@ pub trait FallibleStmtWalker {
             Stmt::Label(label) => self.fallible_walk_label(label),
             Stmt::Inhale(inhale) => self.fallible_walk_inhale(inhale),
             Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => self.fallible_walk_exhale(exhale),
+            Stmt::Assume(assume) => self.fallible_walk_assume(assume),
             Stmt::Assert(assert) => self.fallible_walk_assert(assert),
             Stmt::Refute(refute) => self.fallible_walk_refute(refute),
             Stmt::MethodCall(method_call) => self.fallible_walk_method_call(method_call),
@@ -1281,6 +1325,12 @@ pub trait FallibleStmtWalker {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    fn fallible_walk_assume(&mut self, statement: &Assume) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+        let Assume { expr, .. } = statement;
+        self.fallible_walk_expr(expr)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn fallible_walk_assert(&mut self, statement: &Assert) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         let Assert { expr, .. } = statement;
         self.fallible_walk_expr(expr)?;
diff --git a/vir/src/converter/polymorphic_to_legacy.rs b/vir/src/converter/polymorphic_to_legacy.rs
index 042321f698d..d3fde7f7e90 100644
--- a/vir/src/converter/polymorphic_to_legacy.rs
+++ b/vir/src/converter/polymorphic_to_legacy.rs
@@ -667,6 +667,9 @@ impl From<polymorphic::Stmt> for legacy::Stmt {
             polymorphic::Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => {
                 legacy::Stmt::Exhale(exhale.expr.into(), exhale.position.into())
             }
+            polymorphic::Stmt::Assume(assume) => {
+                legacy::Stmt::Assume(assume.expr.into(), assume.position.into())
+            }
             polymorphic::Stmt::Assert(assert) => {
                 legacy::Stmt::Assert(assert.expr.into(), assert.position.into())
             }
diff --git a/vir/src/converter/type_substitution.rs b/vir/src/converter/type_substitution.rs
index 034b1f71574..22ffb30d29a 100644
--- a/vir/src/converter/type_substitution.rs
+++ b/vir/src/converter/type_substitution.rs
@@ -572,6 +572,7 @@ impl Generic for Stmt {
             Stmt::Label(label) => Stmt::Label(label.substitute(map)),
             Stmt::Inhale(inhale) => Stmt::Inhale(inhale.substitute(map)),
             Stmt::Exhale(exhale) => Stmt::Exhale(exhale.substitute(map)),
+            Stmt::Assume(assume) => Stmt::Assume(assume.substitute(map)),
             Stmt::Assert(assert) => Stmt::Assert(assert.substitute(map)),
             Stmt::Refute(refute) => Stmt::Refute(refute.substitute(map)),
             Stmt::MethodCall(method_call) => Stmt::MethodCall(method_call.substitute(map)),
@@ -639,6 +640,14 @@ impl Generic for Exhale {
     }
 }
 
+impl Generic for Assume {
+    fn substitute(self, map: &FxHashMap<TypeVar, Type>) -> Self {
+        let mut assume = self;
+        assume.expr = assume.expr.substitute(map);
+        assume
+    }
+}
+
 impl Generic for Assert {
     fn substitute(self, map: &FxHashMap<TypeVar, Type>) -> Self {
         let mut assert = self;
diff --git a/vir/src/legacy/ast/stmt.rs b/vir/src/legacy/ast/stmt.rs
index 9b53a3f9120..fa14516d451 100644
--- a/vir/src/legacy/ast/stmt.rs
+++ b/vir/src/legacy/ast/stmt.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ pub enum Stmt {
     Label(String),
     Inhale(Expr, Position),
     Exhale(Expr, Position),
+    Assume(Expr, Position),
     Assert(Expr, Position),
     Refute(Expr, Position),
     /// MethodCall: method_name, args, targets
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ impl Hash for Stmt {
             Stmt::Label(s) => s.hash(state),
             Stmt::Inhale(e, p) => (e, p).hash(state),
             Stmt::Exhale(e, p) => (e, p).hash(state),
+            Stmt::Assume(e, p) => (e, p).hash(state),
             Stmt::Assert(e, p) => (e, p).hash(state),
             Stmt::Refute(e, p) => (e, p).hash(state),
             Stmt::MethodCall(s, v1, v2) => (s, v1, v2).hash(state),
@@ -132,6 +134,9 @@ impl fmt::Display for Stmt {
                 write!(f, "inhale {expr}")
             }
             Stmt::Exhale(ref expr, _) => write!(f, "exhale {expr}"),
+            Stmt::Assume(ref expr, _) => {
+                write!(f, "assume {expr}")
+            }
             Stmt::Assert(ref expr, _) => {
                 write!(f, "assert {expr}")
             }
@@ -303,6 +308,7 @@ impl Stmt {
         match self {
             Stmt::Inhale(_, ref p)
             | Stmt::Exhale(_, ref p)
+            | Stmt::Assume(_, ref p)
             | Stmt::Assert(_, ref p)
             | Stmt::Refute(_, ref p)
             | Stmt::Fold(_, _, _, _, ref p)
@@ -317,6 +323,7 @@ impl Stmt {
         match self {
             Stmt::Inhale(_, ref mut p)
             | Stmt::Exhale(_, ref mut p)
+            | Stmt::Assume(_, ref mut p)
             | Stmt::Assert(_, ref mut p)
             | Stmt::Refute(_, ref mut p)
             | Stmt::Fold(_, _, _, _, ref mut p)
@@ -387,6 +394,7 @@ pub trait StmtFolder {
             Stmt::Label(s) => self.fold_label(s),
             Stmt::Inhale(expr, pos) => self.fold_inhale(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Exhale(e, p) => self.fold_exhale(e, p),
+            Stmt::Assume(expr, pos) => self.fold_assume(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Assert(expr, pos) => self.fold_assert(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Refute(expr, pos) => self.fold_refute(expr, pos),
             Stmt::MethodCall(s, ve, vv) => self.fold_method_call(s, ve, vv),
@@ -425,6 +433,10 @@ pub trait StmtFolder {
         Stmt::Exhale(self.fold_expr(e), p)
     }
 
+    fn fold_assume(&mut self, expr: Expr, pos: Position) -> Stmt {
+        Stmt::Assume(self.fold_expr(expr), pos)
+    }
+
     fn fold_assert(&mut self, expr: Expr, pos: Position) -> Stmt {
         Stmt::Assert(self.fold_expr(expr), pos)
     }
@@ -540,6 +552,7 @@ pub trait FallibleStmtFolder {
             Stmt::Label(s) => self.fallible_fold_label(s),
             Stmt::Inhale(expr, pos) => self.fallible_fold_inhale(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Exhale(e, p) => self.fallible_fold_exhale(e, p),
+            Stmt::Assume(expr, pos) => self.fallible_fold_assume(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Assert(expr, pos) => self.fallible_fold_assert(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Refute(expr, pos) => self.fallible_fold_refute(expr, pos),
             Stmt::MethodCall(s, ve, vv) => self.fallible_fold_method_call(s, ve, vv),
@@ -580,6 +593,10 @@ pub trait FallibleStmtFolder {
         Ok(Stmt::Exhale(self.fallible_fold_expr(e)?, p))
     }
 
+    fn fallible_fold_assume(&mut self, expr: Expr, pos: Position) -> Result<Stmt, Self::Error> {
+        Ok(Stmt::Assume(self.fallible_fold_expr(expr)?, pos))
+    }
+
     fn fallible_fold_assert(&mut self, expr: Expr, pos: Position) -> Result<Stmt, Self::Error> {
         Ok(Stmt::Assert(self.fallible_fold_expr(expr)?, pos))
     }
@@ -737,6 +754,7 @@ pub trait StmtWalker {
             Stmt::Label(s) => self.walk_label(s),
             Stmt::Inhale(expr, pos) => self.walk_inhale(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Exhale(e, p) => self.walk_exhale(e, p),
+            Stmt::Assume(expr, pos) => self.walk_assume(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Assert(expr, pos) => self.walk_assert(expr, pos),
             Stmt::Refute(expr, pos) => self.walk_refute(expr, pos),
             Stmt::MethodCall(s, ve, vv) => self.walk_method_call(s, ve, vv),
@@ -771,6 +789,10 @@ pub trait StmtWalker {
         self.walk_expr(expr);
     }
 
+    fn walk_assume(&mut self, expr: &Expr, _pos: &Position) {
+        self.walk_expr(expr);
+    }
+
     fn walk_assert(&mut self, expr: &Expr, _pos: &Position) {
         self.walk_expr(expr);
     }