Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rebuked recent U.S. sanctions and a naval blockade, saying the pressure aims to create internal division [1, 2].
The remarks highlight the escalating tension between Tehran and Washington over economic warfare. Because the Iranian economy relies heavily on trade, a naval blockade and strict sanctions could severely limit the state's ability to fund domestic services and maintain stability.
Speaking to the media in Tehran after a session of the Iranian Parliament, Ghalibaf criticized the U.S. strategy of economic pressure [1]. He said the naval blockade of the country's ports is specifically intended to sow discord within Iran [1].
Ghalibaf linked the diplomatic stalemate to the current financial state of the nation. "A frozen foreign policy delivers a frozen economy," Ghalibaf said [2].
The speaker argued that these tactics are not merely about policy disagreements but are an attempt to cripple the Iranian economy [1, 2]. He said the blockade is a tool used by the U.S. to force internal political shifts by stressing the population through economic hardship [1].
This confrontation comes as the U.S. continues to use financial levers to influence Iranian behavior on the global stage. Ghalibaf's comments reflect a broader Iranian narrative that views foreign sanctions as an illegal attempt to destabilize the government, rather than a legitimate diplomatic tool [1, 2].
“"A frozen foreign policy delivers a frozen economy."”
The rhetoric from the Iranian Parliament indicates that Tehran views U.S. economic measures not as isolated penalties, but as a coordinated strategy to trigger domestic unrest. By framing the naval blockade as a tool for 'internal division,' the Iranian leadership is signaling to its citizens that economic hardship is a result of external aggression rather than internal mismanagement.
