Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has positioned himself as an unlikely financial adviser during the United States-Israel war on Iran.In a series of posts on X, Ghalibaf has urged investors to treat US-driven, market-moving headlines with scepticism, arguing that “fake news” is often used to manipulate financial and oil markets.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listIn a recent post, he wrote: “Heads-up: Pre-market so-called ‘news’ or ‘Truth’ is often just a setup for profit-taking. Basically, it’s a reverse indicator.“Do the opposite: If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long.“See something tomorrow? You know the drill.”Ghalibaf’s posts should be viewed within the context of general online sparring between Tehran and Washington since the war began, analysts said, and reflect a new reality in which social media and conflict increasingly overlap.They have also been laced with wry humour.In another post, Ghalibaf wrote: “We are aware of what is happening in the paper oil market, including the firms hired to influence oil futures. We also see the broader jawboning campaign.“But let’s see if they can turn that into ‘actual fuel’ at the pump – or maybe even print gas molecules!”But behind the bluster, analysts said, there are more serious calculations at play.Here’s what we know:Why the financial ‘advice’ from Ghalibaf?This reflects Iran’s use of asymmetric warfare, thr …
