Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran
Tehran, Jul 4: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said the United States must recognise that regional realities have changed following the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US, while also criticising President Donald Trump's remarks on Iran's economy and food security.
Speaking during a meeting with Uzbekistan's Speaker of Parliament, Ghalibaf said recent developments had altered the regional landscape.
"Conditions have improved compared to the past, and post-war developments have caused Americans to accept existing realities," Ghalibaf said.
He expressed hope that the changing situation would help strengthen trade ties and pave the way for the removal of sanctions.
"In such an environment, trade relations can be expanded further, and we hope that the groundwork for lifting sanctions will also be prepared," he said.
Ghalibaf also said regional stability could create fresh opportunities for trade and transit.
"With the joint management of Iran and Oman in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and the reduction of American mischief in the region, better opportunities will be created for the development of transit cooperation," he added.
Later on Friday, Ghalibaf criticised Trump over his comments on Iran's economy and food requirements.
In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf accused the US President of projecting America's own domestic problems onto Iran.
"Imagine having forty-something million of your own citizens on food stamps and calling another nation hungry. This is not a proclamation. This is a projection. Keep your SNAP advice," he wrote.
"Our assets, our choices. Mind your malnutrition rates," he added.
The remarks came after Trump, in an interview with CNBC, said Iran's economy had been severely weakened.
"They have 300 per cent inflation, they're making no money," Trump said.
He also stated that the United States hoped to export food commodities to Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts resulted in an agreement.
"They need food. They need corn, wheat and soybeans, and we're going to have exclusively our American farmers provide that, assuming we get to the position where we should get to," Trump said.
Trump further claimed that Iran had accepted nearly all of Washington's conditions during the ongoing diplomatic negotiations, while reiterating that the main objective remained preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
"I think they've agreed to just about everything we need," he said.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran continued in Doha. According to Qatar's foreign ministry, separate meetings involving US and Iranian negotiators, facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan on Jul 1, recorded "positive progress" on issues related to the proposed 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said the parties had agreed to continue discussions, with the next round of talks to be scheduled at the earliest opportunity following the funeral processions of Iran's former Supreme Leader.