In a striking speech to Iran’s parliament on February 12, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf launched a scathing attack on US foreign policy in the Middle East. He specifically targeted Washington’s funding for media figures he described as failures, making an unmistakable allusion to former Pentagon spokesman Pete Hegseth.
Ghalibaf sarcastically remarked: “The United States is spending taxpayers’ money to finance failures, just as it did with Hegseth. Such programs only create chaos and bring no benefit to the region.” He further argued that US intervention in Syria, Yemen, and other countries has fueled instability instead of fostering peace.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker also urged Islamic nations to unite against foreign interference, stressing that Tehran would continue to support movements opposed to Israel and the United States. His comments come amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over nuclear programs and regional influence.
There has been no official response from Washington to Ghalibaf’s criticism. However, analysts view this move as potentially heightening strains in bilateral relations, which are already at their lowest point in decades.
