Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Berger Ghalibaf, who is among several politicians jockeying for power after the exit of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, criticized U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, mocking him as a “failed TV host.” This comment came on the heels of President Trump’s favorable visit to Iran’s ally, China.
Ghalibaf’s remarks, which included terminology like “cosplay” and “LARP,” seemed directed at an American audience. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was attending the BRICS ministerial summit in India. The BRICS is an anti-American alliance comprising major powers like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, predominantly led by China. Iran’s membership has strained relations within the coalition, particularly after their military actions against the UAE. Araghchi used the summit to accuse the UAE of sparking tensions against Iran and undermining the coalition.
In addition to straining ties with a crucial BRICS ally, Iran has faced increasing frustration from China’s leadership, including calls for unhindered passage for commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Stemming from the escalating conflict between Iran and the U.S., Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been blocking commercial shipping in the Strait, prompting the U.S. to respond with its own blockade.
China, a major hub for shipments through the Strait and the world’s largest oil consumer, is particularly vulnerable to such disruptions. Following Trump’s visit to China, he suggested that he and Xi may have found common ground regarding the situation in Iran, though this appears to have incited further criticism from Iran.
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Ghalibaf expressed his views on Twitter, later echoed by Iran’s state-run news agency. A report also highlighted the recent U.S. bond sales, where the yield on 30-year bonds rose to 5% for the first time since 2007. It indicated that global inflation, particularly due to rising fuel prices linked to Iran’s blockade, necessitated these bond sales.
“So you’re funding a failed TV host, Hegseth, to cosplay as an army chief in Hormuz’s backyard with an amount unheard of since 2007?” Ghalibaf posted. “You know what’s crazier than $39 trillion in debt? You pay pre-GFC premiums to fund LARP, and all you get is a brand new GFC.”
“LARP” refers to “live-action role-playing,” often used to describe someone pretending to be someone else in a casual sense. Ghalibaf seemed to use it to mock Hegseth’s role.
Interestingly, Ghalibaf did not mention that the rising oil prices are largely due to Iran’s threats to commercial shipping in the Strait, rather than U.S. actions meant to counter Iran’s aggressions towards its neighbors. Iran consistently disputes claims that it hinders civilian vessels, despite evidence. U.S. military actions against Iran paused in April when Trump announced a ceasefire meant to pave the way for negotiations, ideally leading to a long-term peace deal and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear capabilities.
At the BRICS summit, Araghchi referred to the ceasefire as “very unstable” and expressed his reluctance to discuss it with the U.S.
“We are interested in negotiating, but only if the other party is serious,” he stated. He emphasized the need for trust, saying that “we can’t trust the American people at all.”
He asserted that “as far as we are concerned,” the Strait of Hormuz is accessible, although, he noted all ships are welcome except those from nations engaged in hostilities against Iran, specifically naming the UAE, which Iran has previously attacked. A notable volume of oil is funneled to China from the region.
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Araghchi acknowledged the role of the Chinese Communist Party in fostering diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, stating, “Any action taken by China to support diplomacy will be welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Reports suggested that within the summit context, Iran was seen more as a source of tension than unity within BRICS.
He criticized the UAE for its lack of condemnation regarding operations against Iran and stressed the need for peaceful coexistence. UAE officials eventually condemned the missile attacks following Iran’s retaliatory actions.
Following Trump’s trip to Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry hinted that Trump and Xi had aligned on the issue of Iran, a development that likely won’t sit well with Tehran.
“To respond to the international community’s call and to ensure stable global supply chains, reopening shipping routes is urgent,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun noted, emphasizing the need for a lasting ceasefire to restore peace in the Middle East.
Guo stressed that continuing the conflict serves no one’s interests and that resolving the situation promptly would benefit not only the U.S. and Iran but the entire region.
After their meeting in Beijing, the White House indicated that Xi had clearly articulated China’s opposition to militarizing the Strait and imposed tolls for its use, also agreeing that Iran must not gain nuclear weapons.
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