Ghalibaf Mocks US Claim Iran Does Not Control Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday mocked the United States' assertion that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, in a post on the social media platform X. Ghalibaf referred to Washington as the "US gaslighting bureau" and said that while the US claims Iran does not control the strait, the market is pricing in a significant premium.

He stated that the premium stands at $35 above pre-invasion levels, or $50 when using dated and actual figures. "So either the market's dumb or the US narrative-laundromat is faking it," Ghalibaf wrote. He added sarcastically that there is a "free-dollar vending machine in Hormuz for believers," urging them to "go grab it."

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of global oil exports passes. Iran has repeatedly asserted its influence over the strait, while the US has maintained that Iran does not control it. Ghalibaf's remarks appear to challenge the US position by pointing to market signals.

According to Mehr News, the exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States over regional influence and oil exports. The report did not provide further details on the context of the US claim or the specific market data cited by Ghalibaf.