Ghalibaf hits back as U.S. ties assets to farmers

Ghalibaf mocks – Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked U.S. claims that a temporary peace deal would unfreeze Iranian assets to benefit American farmers, calling it decades of mistrust. The White House says no frozen funds will leave escrow unless Iran mee

The argument landed with a single, sharp line on social media, posted while tensions over the Strait of Hormuz are never far from the headlines.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf fired back after days of statements by President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that a temporary peace deal—one that would lead to unfreezing Iranian assets—would be a boon to U.S. farmers. “America falsely claims our unfrozen assets will buy their agriculture. Interesting,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X.

He followed with a bitter contrast meant to puncture the idea that the deal is a simple win for agriculture. “The only crop we’re harvesting is what you planted: decades of mistrust,” Ghalibaf wrote. “It’s organic, abundant, and homegrown. But apparently the US only exports GMO soybeans, broken promises and trash talks.”.

The White House, when asked for comment, pointed to strict controls built into the arrangement. A U.S. official said: “No frozen funds have left the channel and no frozen funds will leave the channel unless Iran meets the requirements outlined in the MOU [memorandum of understanding].”

That same official said the memorandum puts the U.S. in charge of how the money is spent. “As the MOU states, the United States must approve how the funds are used,” the official said. “As Vice President JD Vance announced this week. if Iranian assets are released. they will be used to purchase American agricultural products to feed the Iranian people.”.

Trump’s own wording has matched that framing. In a social media post on Tuesday, he wrote that the “Money and/or Sanctions that the U.S. Treasury is releasing goes into escrow. controlled by the U.S.A. and will be used for the purchase of food and medical supplies. exclusively from the United States. including Corn. Wheat. and Soybeans from our great American Farmers.”.

Bessent echoed the same claim in an interview on Wednesday with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” saying the Treasury Department would oversee the funds when they are released. “A very large percentage of it will go to buy U.S. foodstuffs and medicines,” Bessent said.

Iran has repeatedly rejected the premise. Earlier this week. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that any agricultural purchases would be based on “prices and quality. ” not on conditions imposed by the U.S. the Associated Press reported. Baghaei added: “It is interesting that the philosophy and goal of the war. which was the destruction of the Iranian civilization and the collapse of Iran. has become enriching American farmers.”.

As the verbal fight continues, the pressure is also building in Washington over how the war against Iran is being handled.

On Wednesday, the White House asked Congress to approve nearly $88 billion in supplemental spending. The request was aimed at covering costs associated with the war against Iran, along with aid to U.S. farms and for the response to an outbreak of Ebola in Africa. The request was immediately opposed by congressional Democrats.

Later on Wednesday. in a late-night vote. the Senate rejected a resolution aimed at giving Congress the authority to stop the war. The vote came a day after the Republican-controlled Senate approved a similar measure. The reversal followed a closed-door meeting Trump had with Senate Republicans. two of whom changed their earlier votes: Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. who switched his vote to a “no” on the resolution. and Rand Paul of Kentucky. who changed his vote from “yes” to “present.”.

All of this is playing out with the Strait of Hormuz still treated as the world’s most sensitive choke point for oil shipments. The U.S. and Israel began their war against Iran in late February. and before then. 20 percent of the oil the world consumes passed through the strait. Under a 60-day agreement that paused the war, Iran cannot impose tolls on ships in the strait during that time.

Still, the toll question is not going away. On Thursday. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran is pushing to earn billions of dollars by charging for security. safety and environmental services in the Strait of Hormuz. The newspaper said Iran is promoting the idea by suggesting its Persian Gulf neighbors share in revenue from such services.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump have flatly rejected the idea of ships passing through the strait being subject to tolls or fees.

Iran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Trump Scott Bessent JD Vance MOU unfreezing assets farmers Strait of Hormuz supplemental spending Senate vote Bill Cassidy Rand Paul Marco Rubio