Iranian parliament speaker dismisses US threats to Iran’s trading partners

Introduction

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed Washington's economic threats against countries cooperating with Iran, saying such statements are not being taken seriously by Tehran's trading partners.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf wrote that Iran's trading partners, "both in the media and through messages sent to us, have made it clear that they don't take these statements into account anywhere."

Ghalibaf's Response

Ghalibaf's remarks appeared to be a direct response to a threat of new sanctions from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as reported by ANI. In his post, Ghalibaf said, "Americans know that no one buys their bombast; the United States is not in an economic position to further restrict its relations with other countries."

The same quotes were carried by TASS, which attributed them to Ghalibaf's post on X without naming Bessent as the target of the response.

US Threats

The exchange comes after US President Donald Trump announced "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale" against Iran. Trump warned that countries whose financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government agencies support Tehran will face serious economic consequences from Washington, according to TASS.

ANI's report noted that Bessent had threatened new sanctions against countries maintaining economic ties with Iran, framing Ghalibaf's response as a "hit back" at the Treasury Secretary. The timing of Ghalibaf's post was given as Tuesday by ANI, though the article was dated August 25; TASS's report, dated August 24, did not specify the day of the post.

Perspectives

Iranian Government

The Iranian parliament speaker dismissed US threats as ineffective, asserting that trading partners do not take them seriously and that the United States lacks the economic capacity to further restrict its relations with other countries. This viewpoint frames US pressure as bombastic and lacking credibility.

US Government

The US administration, through President Trump and Treasury Secretary Bessent, has signaled a policy of economic coercion against Iran, warning that countries cooperating with Tehran will face serious economic consequences. This perspective asserts US resolve to intensify pressure on Iran and its partners.