Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on early Monday took a shot at the US, warning that energy pricing is increasingly being driven by sentiment rather than fundamentals, as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to rattle global supply chains.
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In a post on X, Ghalibaf described “vibe-trading digital crude oil prices” as resembling “vibe-hedging in Treasuries during Hormuz risk-off”, arguing that both markets are built on fragile assumptions.
“Both share one house of cards that works on paper,” he wrote. Drawing a contrast, he added: “Oil at least has Dated Brent. Treasuries? Vibes all the way down,” before referencing a Bloomberg Terminal command linked to benchmark crude pricing, “EUCRBRDT Index GP
The comments come as Iran’s leadership continues to link market instability directly to Western pressure on its oil exports. First vice president Mohammad Reza Aref said global fuel prices could only stabilise if sanctions and military pressure on Iran were lifted. “One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others,” he wrote, warning that the outcome would be “either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.”
His remarks coincide with renewed turbulence in crude markets. Oil prices jumped in early trading after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy flows, where tanker movements have repeatedly stalled amid confrontation between Iran and US naval forces. Brent crude climbed above $96 a barrel while US benchmark WTI surged close to $90, reflecting heightened supply fears.
The escalation follows a series of maritime incidents, including the reported seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel by US forces in the Gulf of Oman. US President Donald Trump said the ship had ignored warnings before being struck, while Iran described the action as “piracy” and vowed retaliation. The episode has further strained an already fragile ceasefire framework and cast doubt over planned diplomatic talks.
