Fresh accusations that Donald Trump is deliberately using statements on national security to move financial markets gained significant traction on Monday after a single post on Truth Social sent oil prices tumbling and stocks surging — only for Iran to flatly deny the entire premise within the hour. The episode drew sharp criticism from an Iranian academic, financial analysts, and social media commentators who argued the pattern was neither coincidence nor incompetence, but a calculated strategy to manipulate the markets in the president's favour.
At approximately 7:04 am ET, Trump posted on Truth Social claiming the United States and Iran had held 'very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.' He added that he had instructed the Department of War to 'postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.' The post went live just two hours before US stock markets opened — and crucially, the five-day pause was set to expire at the close of the energy sector trading week.
