Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a statement on Tuesday criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent. Ghalibaf characterized both men as being "way out of their league" regarding their ability to engage in effective peace negotiations with Tehran.

The Speaker’s comments centered on the U.S. strategy of "maximum pressure," which involves utilizing economic sanctions to influence Iranian policy. Ghalibaf contended that the American approach of "squeezing Iran harder" is fundamentally flawed and will not result in the concessions the U.S. seeks. He suggested that the incoming administration’s reliance on this strategy ignores the reality that such demands were not part of previous agreements.

This rhetoric reflects the ongoing tension between Washington and Tehran as the new U.S. administration prepares to take office. While Ghalibaf’s comments serve as a public rejection of the incoming team's diplomatic capabilities, they also signal that Iran remains resistant to changing its stance on nuclear and regional policies in response to U.S. economic pressure. The U.S. nominees have not yet issued a formal response to these specific remarks from the Iranian leadership.