New discussion on Tehran’s ‘unused cards’: Iran hints at economic power struggle

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has sparked a new debate on the balance of economic power between the United States and Iran. He claimed that Washington’s idea of ​​dominance is not entirely realistic; rather, Tehran still has several important ‘cards’ unused.

In a post on the social media platform X on Sunday night, Ghalibaf compared the economic strategies of Iran and the United States. According to him, Iran’s main energy base is supply-based – especially the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the oil pipeline network. On the other hand, the United States relies on demand-based strategies, such as supplying oil from strategic reserves, controlling energy demand and possible price adjustments.

According to Ghalibaf, the United States has already used or partially applied several of its economic tools. In contrast, Iran has not yet applied some of its alternative strategies, which could have a significant impact in the future. He commented, “The supply card versus the demand card – this competition will determine the future situation.”

Among Iran’s possible strategies, he mentioned that although the Strait of Hormuz is partially used, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and pipeline options have not yet been fully utilized. On the other hand, the United States has already taken steps such as releasing oil from strategic reserves and controlling demand.

Ghalibaf also mentioned that energy demand in the United States may increase during the summer, and said that managing the pressure during this time could be a big challenge for Washington. According to analysts, this economic strategic position of both sides indicates new instability in the global energy market in the future.