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

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 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,” 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 funneling 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 fulfills its commitments.

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