Tehran: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has publicly dismissed the assertions made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the impact of US economic actions on Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, Qalibaf took to the US-based social media platform X to counter Bessent's statement that the US had released 130 million barrels of oil onto the market in the past two weeks to destabilize the Iranian economy.

Qalibaf criticized Bessent's remarks as misleading, urging the US Treasury Chief to consult Moody's data, which Qalibaf claims highlights over $130 billion in costs related to conflicts. He further alleged that the US trading firm Jane Street suffered losses exceeding $130 million due to incorrect bets on oil futures.

In his social media post, Qalibaf included a pointed retort, "Liar, liar, yields on fire," and shared an article by economist Paul Krugman titled 'Scott Bessent Fails to Gaslight the Market,' suggesting that Bessent's economic strategies are misguided.

The tensions between the US and Iran have been escalating since February, following military strikes and subsequent retaliations. Despite efforts mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, including a memorandum of understanding signed in June in Islamabad, the path to resolving hostilities has been fraught with complications, as Iran accuses the US of not honoring its commitments.