In a post on his X account on Friday night, Qalibaf said Iranians have throughout history confronted powers that proclaimed themselves masters of the world and sought to destroy ancient civilizations, only to see those powers depart in disgrace.

“Throughout history we Iranians have faced those who declared themselves masters of the universe and sought to erase ancient civilizations,” he wrote.

“They came in fire and flame, only to depart in dust and shame. Those who chase Alexander’s legacy will share Valerian’s fate: you will kneel,” Qalibaf stated.

His remarks came after Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also criticized US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s portrayal of Western civilization during a visit to Greece, accusing him of presenting a selective historical narrative that links ancient Greece to the modern United States to legitimize the use of force.

Baqaei argued that Rubio’s interpretation emphasized power and national will while overlooking the Greek tradition’s critiques of imperial ambition, arrogance and aggression.

He warned that turning history into a tool for legitimizing military force distorts the past to serve present political objectives, and called on Western thinkers to defend the historical and philosophical complexity of their civilization against such interpretations.