What did Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf say Iran should do about U.S. sanctions?

Qalibaf said Iran must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so it can overcome them. He tied that challenge to both economic development and national security.

Why did Qalibaf accuse the United States and Israel of economic warfare?

He said they had concluded they could not prevail in a direct military confrontation with Iran and Iraq, so they were resorting to economic and cognitive warfare. He made the accusation while speaking to business representatives in Baghdad.

Iran says Tehran must overcome 'unjust sanctions' as US ramps up economic pressure

Q: How did Qalibaf say Iran and Iraq could reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar?

He called for stronger economic ties between Baghdad and Tehran and said the two countries could use their national currencies in trade. He presented that as a way to lessen reliance on the dollar.

Listen

Summary

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf said in Baghdad on Friday that Iran must plan to overcome unjust sanctions after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced tougher sanctions on Iran. Qalibaf, who also serves as Tehran’s top negotiator in talks with the United States, linked economic development and security and accused the United States and Israel of economic and cognitive warfare. He also urged stronger Iran-Iraq economic ties and said the two countries could trade in their national currencies to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.

Key Facts

Bessent said on Thursday that the new sanctions would be detailed on Monday.
Qalibaf spoke to Iranian and Iraqi business representatives in Baghdad, according to his Telegram channel.
Qalibaf said Iran and Iraq could use their national currencies in trade to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.

By Reuters

Published Aug 21, 2026 5:19 pm KST

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reacts as he visits the grave of Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed alongside Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020, in Najaf, Iraq, Aug. 21. Reuters-Yonhap

DUBAI — Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf said on Friday that Iran must plan to overcome "unjust sanctions", a day after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced what he described as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran.

Bessent said on Thursday the measures would be detailed on Monday, suggesting they could lessen the need for further major military operations.

Qalibaf, one of Iran's most influential political figures and Tehran's top negotiator in talks with the United States, said economic development and security were closely linked.

He accused the United States and Israel of waging economic and "cognitive" warfare after concluding they could not prevail in a direct military confrontation with Iran and Iraq.

"If you look at the resources and raw materials of Muslim countries, you will realize that our enemies come to plunder them," Qalibaf told Iranian and Iraqi business representatives in Baghdad, according to his Telegram channel.

"Therefore, we must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them."

He also called for stronger economic ties between Baghdad and Tehran and said the two countries could use their national currencies in trade to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.

Explore More