Was Trump’s Big Iran Announcement Just a Ploy at Market Manipulation?
President Trump’s alleged five-day delay in strikes on Iranian power plants may very well be a ploy to manipulate markets in his favor amid soaring oil prices.
“I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump said. wrote Monday morning on Truth Social, adding that the United States would not strike Iranian power plants or energy infrastructure for the next five days.
The announcement came just two hours before U.S. stock markets opened, and the supposed end to strikes will end at the end of the energy sector trading week. This decision caused a dizzying rise in oil prices. drop considerably.
However, an Iranian official said Fars News Agency that the Iranian government had “no direct contact with Trump, not even through intermediaries. Trump withdrew after learning that our targets would be all power plants in West Asia.” The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the semi-official Mehr news agency says there are no negotiations between the two countries. This raises serious doubts about whether the president is telling the truth or simply saying everything he can to stop gas prices from rising higher and higher as Iran locks down the Strait of Hormuz.
Kobeissi’s letter details how Trump’s announcement sent shockwaves through the stock market. “At 7:04 a.m. ET today, President Trump said that ‘the United States and Iran have had productive discussions’ to end the war in Iran. At 7:10 a.m. ET, the S&P 500 jumped +240 points, adding +$2 trillion in market capitalization,” the analysis notes. “27 minutes later, Iran completely denied all of President Trump’s claims and said there had been “no contact” with the United States. As of 8 a.m., the S&P 500 had fallen -120 points, erasing -$1 trillion in market cap. That’s a $3 trillion market cap in 56 minutes, just for the S&P 500. What’s going on here?
The likely attempt at market manipulation only reinforces doubts about Trump’s ability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, subdue Iran or win the war he started. We should expect more bombshells – at least – next week.
“Every week, when markets open, Trump makes these kinds of statements to lower oil prices. Even his five-day deadline aligns with the closure of the energy market,” said Iranian academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi, who is closely linked to the government. written the. “But in reality, no negotiations are underway, nor does Trump have the ability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s firm threat has once again forced Trump to back down.”
