Iranian Official Condemns U.S. Tactics on Oil Markets

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran's Parliament, recently launched a pointed critique via social media targeting a longstanding U.S. economic maneuver. He asserted that Washington has persistently disseminated a high volume of misleading narratives into the global energy arena, aiming to artificially suppress international crude oil prices.

Market Develops "Numbness," Rendering Tactic Ineffective

Ghalibaf stressed that this method of manipulating markets through information has reached its limit. Due to its repetitive use, global traders and analysts have grown wary, leading to dulled market reactions and a state where such claims "find no believers." This indicates the near-total erosion of one of America's key tools for influencing oil prices through perception.

"Forceful Yet Unwise": Depleting Strategic Leverage Prematurely

The seasoned Iranian politician elaborated, calling the U.S. actions "seemingly forceful but far from clever." He likened the release of such information to playing a vital "strategic card," arguing that Washington had played it too early and too often. Consequently, its potency may be depleted when genuinely needed to steer market sentiment. This critique touches on a central dilemma in geopolitical "cognitive warfare": the exhaustion of credibility.

  • Core Allegation: Systematic U.S. use of disinformation as an economic instrument.
  • Market Reality: Traders have developed "immunity," treating unconventional signals with skepticism.
  • Strategic Cost: Short-term pressure tactics impair long-term capacity to shape market confidence.

These remarks not only articulate Iran's official stance against U.S. economic pressure but also indirectly highlight the growing sophistication of global energy markets in navigating complex information landscapes. When the cry of "wolf" is heard too often, initial panic eventually gives way to rational scrutiny.