Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned on social media that his country will target buyers of US Treasury bonds, escalating threats against nations and institutions that finance American military operations.
"In addition to military bases, those financial institutions that fund the US military budget are considered legitimate targets," Ghalibaf wrote on X. "US Treasury bonds are tainted with the blood of Iranians. If you proceed to purchase them, you are in fact attacking your own assets and primary headquarters. We are monitoring your investment portfolios."
The threat comes amid intensifying conflict between the US and Iran. Since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran starting Feb. 28, Iranian forces have attacked American military bases and embassies across the region. At least seven US soldiers have been killed by Iranian retaliation, while six soldiers died when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq on March 12.
The warning follows President Trump's announcement that US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure would pause for five days after what he called "very good" and "productive conversations" regarding an end to the conflict. However, Ghalibaf on Monday denied that negotiations between the US and Iran are taking place, calling reports of talks "fakenews" used to "manipulate the financial and oil markets."
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans have largely supported the US strikes on Iran and criticized any pause in military operations. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called the five-day pause "a mistake" and said Iran should face "maximum pressure" rather than diplomatic concessions.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Bird of Texas said Ghalibaf's threats "confirm what we've always known about the Iranian regime" and called on allies to "stand firm" against economic coercion. "The Islamic Republic threatens anyone who funds American operations — that's precisely why we need to ensure our allies know America will stand with them," Bird said.
Former Trump advisor Sebastian Gorka called the threats "a sign of Iranian desperation" and argued they prove the strikes are working. "They're threatening sovereign nations because they're running out of options," Gorka said in a statement. "We should not reward this behavior with pauses or diplomatic concessions."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have expressed concern that the escalating threats could destabilize global financial markets and harm US allies in the Middle East. Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders have called for diplomatic solutions, arguing that military escalation risks drawing more nations into a widening conflict.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said the threats against Treasury bond buyers represent "a dangerous escalation that could have devastating consequences for global economic stability." He urged the administration to pursue "serious diplomatic engagement" rather than military strikes.
Progressive foreign policy advocates have also pointed to the potential impact on allied nations. The Center for American Progress noted that Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates each hold more than $100 billion in US Treasury bonds, making them vulnerable to Iranian threats. "These are countries we count as partners," one analyst said. "Threatening their Treasury holdings threatens American credibility as a safe haven for global investment."
What the Numbers Show
As of January, the countries holding the most US Treasury securities are Japan ($1.1 trillion), the United Kingdom ($650 billion), China ($775 billion), Belgium ($360 billion), and Luxembourg ($310 billion), according to Treasury Department data.
In the Middle East, countries with more than $100 billion in US Treasury bonds include Saudi Arabia ($135 billion), Israel ($70 billion but growing), and the United Arab Emirates ($100 billion). These nations have been key buyers of US debt amid efforts to diversify foreign reserves.
The conflict has also affected energy markets. Oil prices fell and stocks surged on Monday after Trump announced the five-day pause in strikes. Brent crude dropped 4% to $68 per barrel, while the S&P 500 rose 1.2%, reflecting investor relief at the prospect of de-escalation.
US military casualties have also mounted. At least seven US soldiers have been killed in Iranian-linked attacks since late February, with an additional six soldiers dying when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq on March 12 during operations related to the conflict.
The Bottom Line
Ghalibaf's warning marks a significant escalation in Iranian threats, extending beyond military targets to the financial system that funds US operations. The threat to target Treasury bond buyers could affect nations holding hundreds of billions in US debt, including key Middle Eastern allies.
The five-day pause on strikes offers a window for diplomacy, but Ghalibaf's denial of negotiations suggests the Iranian parliament speaker may not be aligned with any potential diplomatic pathway. The disconnect between Trump's description of "productive conversations" and Ghalibaf's dismissal of talks as "fakenews" indicates deep uncertainty about the conflict's trajectory.
What to watch: Whether Middle Eastern nations holding large Treasury positions respond to the threats, and whether the five-day pause produces any tangible de-escalation or collapses into resumed military operations. Markets will be closely monitoring any signals from both sides in the coming days.