Iran Accuses Trump of Market Manipulation Amid Stalled Diplomacy

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian Parliament, rejected the notion of any diplomatic breakthrough. He described the president’s claims as a distraction from the ongoing conflict, asserting that such misinformation serves to temporarily stabilize financial indicators while the U.S. remains entrenched in a regional quagmire. Market data reflects this volatility: following the president’s morning announcement, the S&P 500 surged by 240 points, only to shed 120 points minutes after Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a formal denial.

Energy prices remain a focal point of the escalation, with gas costs climbing toward $4 per gallon as Iran maintains its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This closure, which disrupts one-fifth of global oil supplies, has placed significant pressure on the administration. Academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi noted that the president’s rhetoric frequently aligns with market opening hours, suggesting a pattern of using diplomatic threats to suppress energy prices. Iranian officials maintain that any resolution requires a comprehensive ceasefire across Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq, alongside the lifting of sanctions on defensive military equipment.