Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on May 9 strongly criticized US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, calling her a “big liar” as relations between the two countries remain tense.
Speaking at a parliamentary session, Ghalibaf accused Yellen of making false statements regarding economic and nuclear issues, and argued that US sanctions against Iran have caused significant hardship for the Iranian people.
“The US Treasury Secretary is a big liar. What she says about Iran’s economic situation is completely at odds with reality,” Ghalibaf stressed.
The Iranian official also rejected Washington’s allegations that Tehran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, insisting that Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful and in full compliance with international regulations.
Earlier, in her testimonies before the US Congress, Yellen had repeatedly called for strengthening sanctions against Iran to curb activities that destabilize the Middle East region.
Iran and the US have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1980. Tensions between the two nations have risen considerably in recent years, particularly since the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018.
Ghalibaf’s reaction comes as international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have yet to achieve any significant breakthrough, and the Iranian government faces mounting economic pressure from sanctions.
