Iran's top negotiator rejects U.S. claim on use of unfrozen assets

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday rejected U.S. claims that Iran's unfrozen assets would be spent on U.S. agricultural products, the latest sign of discord between the two sides over how the released funds should be spent.



In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf, also a top Iranian negotiator, wrote that "America falsely claims our unfrozen assets will buy their agriculture. Interesting. The only crop we're harvesting is what you planted: decades of mistrust."



Ghalibaf's post echoed previous remarks by other Iranian officials. On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran would use the unfrozen assets entirely according to its national interests and without restrictions, adding that purchasing decisions would be based on price and quality.



Meanwhile, Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said Iran has no obligation to buy U.S. agricultural products, though it would not rule out purchases if U.S. goods are competitively priced.