Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf directly challenged U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday, accusing him of lying about Washington's role in guiding 130 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 14 days—a period Bessent had cited as a success for U.S. maritime security efforts.
Speaking during a public session of the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Ghalibaf broadened his critique to target the reported cost of ongoing conflicts to U.S. taxpayers, a persistent grievance among American lawmakers. He cited recent pressure on long-term Treasury yields as evidence of economic strain within the United States, suggesting Bessent's claims masked a disconnect between official U.S. statements and economic reality.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world's daily petroleum consumption, making control and safe passage through the waterway central to both U.S. and Iranian strategic interests. Ghalibaf's direct challenge targets U.S. credibility on international energy security and its claims of regional stability.
Bessent said earlier this week that U.S. efforts were robust in maintaining open shipping lanes and ensuring global energy supply. His comments sought to reassure international markets about the reliability of oil transit despite regional volatility. The Treasury Secretary's office has regularly highlighted such figures to demonstrate the effectiveness of U.S. naval presence and diplomatic engagement in the Middle East.
The U.S. State Department has not directly responded to Ghalibaf's specific accusations, though officials regularly reaffirm commitments to freedom of navigation.
