Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has called for measures to overcome what he described as “unjust sanctions” imposed by the United States, as Washington prepares to unveil tougher economic measures against Tehran.
Qalibaf made the remarks on Friday, a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans for what he described as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran.
Bessent said the details of the new measures would be released on Monday, suggesting the sanctions could reduce the need for further major military operations.
Speaking to Iranian and Iraqi business representatives in Baghdad, Qalibaf said Iran must strengthen its economy and security to withstand increasing pressure from the US and Israel.
The Iranian parliament speaker, who is also one of Tehran’s most influential political figures and its top negotiator in talks with the United States, accused Washington and Israel of waging economic and “cognitive” warfare after failing to defeat Iran and Iraq through direct military confrontation.
“If you look at the resources and raw materials of Muslim countries, you will realise that our enemies come to plunder them,” Qalibaf said, according to a statement posted on his Telegram channel.
“Therefore, we must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them.”
Qalibaf also urged closer economic cooperation between Iran and Iraq, including the use of their national currencies for bilateral trade.
He said such an arrangement could help both countries reduce their dependence on the US dollar amid growing economic pressure from Washington.
The remarks come as the United States intensifies its campaign against Iran, with sanctions and restrictions increasingly targeting the country’s oil exports and financial networks.
The pressure has also affected Iranian crude shipments to China, Tehran’s biggest oil customer, as Washington seeks to restrict Iran’s ability to generate revenue from its main export.
