Qalibaf Mocks US Economic Outlook, Warns of Mounting Financial Pressures
TEHRAN: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has mocked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s upbeat assessment of the American economy, pointing to what he described as growing financial, energy and military pressures facing Washington.
In a post on X, Qalibaf responded to Bessent’s claim that the US economy had entered a “liftoff phase” by sharing an image of the cartoon characters Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
Using sarcastic remarks, Qalibaf cited a series of economic and policy developments in the United States, including rising diesel prices, foreign holdings of US Treasury securities, military recruitment challenges and signals from the Federal Reserve.
“Wheels up. Warm-ups before liftoff,” Qalibaf wrote before listing the developments he said contradicted Bessent’s assessment.
Qalibaf’s comments came after Bessent said in an interview with Lara Trump that oil prices could fall to between $40 and $50 per barrel following the conflict with Iran. The US Treasury secretary also maintained that the American economy was entering what he called a “liftoff phase.”
The Iranian parliamentary speaker pointed to US diesel prices, which he said had reached record levels, as evidence of continuing pressure on American consumers and businesses.
He also referred to Japan’s position as the largest foreign holder of US Treasury securities. US Treasury data showed Japan held approximately $1.12 trillion in US Treasuries in June, maintaining its position as Washington’s biggest foreign creditor.
Qalibaf further highlighted developments involving Japan’s overseas debt holdings and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund. He cited a proposal by Norges Bank Investment Management to reduce the fund’s allocation to government bonds, a move that could lower its holdings of US Treasury securities by nearly $80 billion.
The Iranian official also pointed to declining US military recruitment, linking the issue to broader concerns over Washington’s ability to sustain its defence commitments while managing rising debt.
Qalibaf concluded his post with a sarcastic reference to Federal Reserve policy signals, suggesting that the central bank’s economic projections were showing warning signs despite the Treasury secretary’s optimistic outlook.
His remarks reflect Tehran’s broader effort to challenge Washington’s economic narrative amid continuing tensions between Iran and the United States, particularly over energy markets and the wider economic consequences of the conflict.
