Iran’s parliament speaker hits back at US Treasury secretary on foreign spending

'Instead of funneling billions to Israel and 750 bases, this failing empire could spend that cash on its own people'

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday lashed out at US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after he accused Tehran of spending vast sums abroad while Iranians struggle to meet their basic needs.

In a post on US social media company X, Ghalibaf said Washington should spend money on its own citizens instead of directing billions of dollars to its overseas allies and military bases.

“Instead of funnelling billions to its terrorist proxy, Israel, and 750 bases, this failing empire could spend that cash on its own people, but nah, that'd make too much sense for this regime,” he said.

Instead of funneling billions to its terrorist proxy, Israel, and 750 bases, this failing empire could spend that cash on its own people, but nah, that'd make too much sense for this regime.

Scotty, man [?], your credibility is on the line. Do something.https://t.co/zz1x0VWKyQ https://t.co/FQf6k8aova

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) August 27, 2026

Addressing Bessent, Ghalibaf said: “Scotty, man, your credibility is on the line. Do something.”

His remarks came in response to a post by Bessent that accused the Iranian government of wasting large amounts of money abroad.

Read: Trump says millions of barrels of oil flowing through Strait of Hormuz

“As the Iranian people struggle to afford basic necessities, the corrupt regime continues to squander enormous sums abroad,” Bessent said. “Instead of funnelling billions of dollars to its terrorist proxies, the regime should spend that money for its people,” he added.

In June, Iran and the US, with Pakistani and Qatari mediation, signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding in Islamabad.

It included provisions for ending hostilities that began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting a US naval blockade and beginning a 60-day negotiation process.

Tehran has accused the US of failing to implement key provisions of the memorandum, insisting that the strait will not fully reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments.

US CENTCOM claims shipping lanes open in Strait of Hormuz

The US military’s Central Command said on Thursday that internationally recognised shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are open after American forces cleared sea mines from the waterway.

“We have successfully cleared sea mines in the Strait's international shipping lanes that were laid months ago by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a video on US social media company X. “Internationally recognised transit routes in the Strait are free of Iranian sea mines.”

U.S. Navy E/A 18G electronic-warfare aircraft patrol the skies over the Middle East while the U.S. continues to enforce the blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 27, CENTCOM forces have redirected 75 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and boarded 2 to ensure compliance. pic.twitter.com/JNzig4owRl

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 27, 2026

Cooper said US forces used Navy divers, Navy SEALs and aircraft from the army, navy, air force and Marine Corps to clear the lanes.

“Bottom line, today, international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building,” he said.

He said US forces assisted nearly 1,500 commercial vessels in transiting the strait in the last several months, carrying nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil to global markets.

Cooper also said that since the US resumed its naval blockade in July, no ships had entered or left Iranian ports without American permission, except for vessels allowed to pass on humanitarian grounds.

He said the US turned around 75 vessels attempting to run the blockade and disabled three that did not comply with directions.

Iran threatens US economic interests if maritime blockade continues

Iran will target US economic interests if the maritime blockade against the country continues, a senior Iranian official warned on Thursday.

“If the blockade continues, we will target US economic interests fully and with intensity and force,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

Rezaei said Iran had “broken the maritime blockade” during the ceasefire and exported between 70 million and 80 million barrels of oil.

He added that Iranian oil sales had returned to their pre-sanctions level.

“In addition to clearing floating stocks, we have established new export routes that are gradually expanding,” Rezaei said.

Addressing developments in Lebanon, Rezaei said Beirut and its southern suburbs were a “red line” for Tehran.

“No one has the right to move toward Beirut or its southern suburbs,” he said. “We are closely monitoring the situation with complete seriousness.”

Rezaei added that Israel “will be forced to withdraw from the occupied areas in Lebanon.”