Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, Iranian parliament speaker, said Iran must plan to overcome “unjust ‌sanctions” after the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced what he described as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran.

Mr Qalibaf stated this on Friday, after Mr Bessent announced on Thursday that the toughest sanctions ever would be imposed on Iran.

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

Mr 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 U.S. 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 realise that our enemies come to plunder them,” Mr Qalibaf told Iranian and Iraqi ⁠business representatives in Baghdad.

“Therefore, we must make plans to deal with the unjust sanctions so ⁠that we can overcome them,” he said.

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

 (Reuters/NAN)