Iran's Parliament Speaker Calls U.S. Treasury Secretary a 'Big Liar'

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has sharply criticized U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, calling him a "big liar" in response to Bessent's claims about the United States guiding millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media post, Ghalibaf reposted an article by Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman titled "Scott Bessent Fails to Gaslight the Market," in which Krugman criticizes Bessent's market management and policy credibility.

Ghalibaf mocked Bessent's reference to "130 million barrels," offering alternative "130" figures. He wrote: "For real 130s, tell your staffer to pull Moody's showing $130+ billion in war costs, and ask another how much Jane Street burned north of $130 million shorting oil for you in just one futures roll."

He concluded his post by targeting U.S. sovereign debt markets, writing: "Liar liar yields on fire."

The exchange comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, particularly regarding oil shipments and regional security. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil transport, and any disruption there could have significant economic consequences.

According to Mehr News Agency, Ghalibaf's remarks were made in response to Bessent's statements about U.S. involvement in guiding oil through the strait. The report did not provide further details on the context of Bessent's original claims.