Iranian Speaker Challenges US Economic Claims Amid Pressure

In a social media post on X, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's optimistic statements about the US economy. Ghalibaf used a picture from the animated cartoon "Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner" to challenge Bessent's assertion that the US economy is entering a "liftoff phase."

Ghalibaf's post highlighted several economic developments, including record-high US diesel prices, Japan's position as the largest foreign holder of US Treasury securities, recent reductions in Japanese overseas debt holdings, and issues with US military recruitment. He wrote: "Wheels up. Warm-ups before liftoff: Diesel ATH: Short it Your biggest creditor dumping: Good luck with Yentervention++ NOR cutting $80B: Rename Norway to Americaway Low recruitment: Debt-to-Service w/ DO[Israel's]W, per your puppeteers Oh. Fed's dot plot flashing red 😁."

The post was a direct response to Bessent's interview with Lara Trump, in which the Treasury secretary claimed that oil prices could fall to $40-$50 per barrel after the Iran conflict and declared that the US economy was in the "liftoff phase." Ghalibaf's remarks pointed to contradictions in these claims.

According to US Treasury data, Japan remained the largest foreign holder of Treasuries in June, with holdings of about $1.12 trillion. The speaker's comments also referenced the Federal Reserve's dot plot, which indicates interest rate projections, and suggested that the US is facing economic and financial pressures.

The exchange comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, with the US imposing maximum pressure policies and economic warfare against Iran. Ghalibaf's post reflects Tehran's perspective on the effectiveness of these policies.

According to Mehr News Agency (MNA), Ghalibaf's post was a pointed critique of US economic management and its implications for global markets.