TEHRAN July 3, 2026 — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf sharply rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, accusing Washington of hypocrisy after Trump suggested that unfrozen Iranian assets should be used to buy American agricultural products to address Iran’s reported food shortages.
Ghalibaf posted on X:
“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. Our assets, our choices. Mind your malnutrition rates.”
The statement came in response to Trump’s recent remarks that unfrozen Iranian funds — part of ongoing diplomatic talks following a brief U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict earlier this year — would be directed toward purchasing U.S. corn, wheat, soybeans, and other farm goods for Iran. Trump had described Iran as “having a hard time with food” and framed the move as a new export opportunity for American farmers, with the funds remaining under U.S. control in escrow.
Following a June ceasefire and ongoing negotiations in Doha, the Trump administration has indicated it would release several billion dollars in previously frozen Iranian assets. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have publicly stated that the money would be spent exclusively on U.S. agricultural and humanitarian goods.
Iranian officials have pushed back, insisting that any released funds belong to Iran and that Tehran will decide how they are spent.
Ghalibaf’s pointed English-language reply quickly gained traction online. Pro-Iran accounts, including the popular @BRICSinfo channel, shared it with accompanying graphics highlighting the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports roughly 40–42 million Americans.
The exchange underscores lingering tensions even as both sides signal progress toward de-escalation and limited economic normalization.
Both sides continue to trade accusations while diplomatic channels remain open in Doha. It remains unclear whether any asset release will ultimately occur or under what exact conditions.
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