Top Iranian Official Appears To Acknowledge The Impact Of U.S. Economic Pressure: ‘No Matter How Much Military Power We Have’

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf appeared to acknowledge the impact of economic pressure from the U.S., saying military might alone is not enough to move the country forward.

"No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we don't have financial circulation, economic growth and domestic production, we will not endure," Qalibaf said in a meeting with Iranian and Iraqi business leaders at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.

He went on to say that economic stability and security are inseparable. "If we establish security but do not sustain it through the economy, it will not last," he added, also accusing the U.S. and Israel of conducting what he described as "cognitive" warfare.

In the same line, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for an end to the war, saying the country should pursue the goal while on top. "It is better to end the war today, when we are powerful and respected and the whole world acknowledges our victory," he said.

The remarks come after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the decision to double down on economic pressure against Iran likely means there won't be a return to active military conflict.

"If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart," Bessent told CNBC on Thursday.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. will carry out an "economic D-Day" against Iran.

In a social media post, Trump said that Washington will launch the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country."

"This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale," Trump said, also threatening large "economic consequences" for "ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran."

"This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat. These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide," Trump added.