The Iranians are more fearful of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent than Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz revealed over the weekend.
On Sunday, Waltz said that every time the United States negotiates with the Iranian regime, Tehran focuses on one thing above all else: cash. That is why its proposals in recent weeks offered by the regime have revolved around transit through the Strait of Hormuz, access to frozen funds, and relief from U.S. sanctions.
As Waltz put it, the regime may be willing to absorb the deaths of its soldiers and the destruction of its military assets. What it cannot absorb is record inflation, frozen cash, and an economic blockade.
UN Ambassador Mike Waltz reveals the Iranians are more afraid of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent than they are of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
— Overton (@overton_news) August 10, 2026
Waltz says Bessent’s Operation Economic Fury is “devastating the Iranian economy” and the Iranians are now coming to the negotiating… pic.twitter.com/xQave7KBRk
"Operation Economic Fury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, is devastating the Iranian economy. And I say this jokingly, but seriously as well, the Iranians are more afraid of Secretary Bessent than they are of Secretary Hegseth right now," Waltz said. "When they're coming to the table to our negotiators, they are talking about cash, cash, cash, because they'll absorb the bombings. They don't care about their military, they don't care about their soldiers, or even the Iranian people after they massacred 40,000 of them. But what are they worried about? They're worried about that their currency is tanking, inflation is the highest in 80 years, the IRGC controls half the economy."
"Because this is a corrupt, elite, religious, fanatic regime that has devastated that country for many, many decades. They are constantly asking for access to cash, access to their assets that we've frozen," he added. "And what the President is talking about is that's the squeeze. That coupled with the blockade, that's what's going to eventually get the Iranians to move."
Iran has shown no new willingness to meet American demands. Instead, Tehran continues to seek maximum concessions from Washington, sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, compensation for war damage, and an end to the naval blockade, while offering little of its own. Its posture suggests a regime that still believes it is negotiating from a position of strength, even as President Trump insists the United States holds the stronger hand.
The president has repeatedly told Americans that a deal is close. But after months of supposed optimistic signals followed by Iranian denials and fresh maximalist demands, few are holding their breath.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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