Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the United States cannot pressure Iran through the Strait of Hormuz without facing significant blowback.

Ghalibaf posted on X on Sunday, mocking the US by sharing a meme depicting a closet with plates about to fall. He captioned the image with terms including "global IOU casino," "petrodollar ponzi," and "rentier sheikhdoms," calling it "Schrödinger’s Empire."

Geopolitical Tensions

Ghalibaf stated that the empire is in the Strait of Hormuz cabinet with falling plates, projecting hegemony but fully exposed. He claimed trying to suffocate Iran without blowback is impossible.

"This endgame cannot be modeled. It will be opened, and Iran’s hand is already on the lever," he said, quoting a post from HFI Research. The post referenced JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) analysts’ note about being unable to model oil amid disruptions.

Strategic Context

The comments come as President Donald Trump was reportedly contemplating taking significant action against Tehran. Reports indicated the administration is in "deciding mode" about the situation in Iran.

Trump is set to meet with state leaders from Gulf states to discuss a post-Iran war scenario. Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck and detained a Togo-flagged tanker named Trend in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump has warned Iran of severe economic collapse or leadership destruction unless a deal is reached. Amid the heightened geopolitical tension, US stock futures rose while crude oil prices declined on Sunday.

Market Reaction

US equity futures advanced in early trading. Dow futures rose 120 points, or 0.23%, to 52,199.00. S&P 500 futures gained 26 points, or 0.34%, to 7,738.50. Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 164 points, or 0.55%, to 30,081.25 as of around 8:48 p.m. EDT.

Asian markets also traded higher. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.73% to 6,944.56. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.38% to 65,018.95.

In commodities, prices moved lower despite the geopolitical risks. WTI crude oil fell 1.61% to $98.69 per barrel. Brent crude declined 1.43% to $102.38 per barrel. Natural gas futures fell 1.24% to $2.876 per MMBtu. The U.S. dollar index stood at 100.254, up 0.04%.

Escalating Tensions and Retaliation Threats

Trump outlined three primary paths regarding the conflict: "wiping Iran out," allowing the country to "rot economically," or negotiating a deal. He warned that "they better behave" while expressing uncertainty about the timing of any drastic measures.

Iranian officials have responded with threats of retaliation. Iran’s military stated that any new attack would trigger sustained retaliation against U.S. bases and interests. Washington’s regional allies could also be treated as participants in the conflict, Reuters reported.

The confrontation widened over the weekend after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group claimed missile and drone attacks on sensitive targets in Riyadh. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert warning of possible further escalation.

Diplomatic Moves and Energy Disruptions

Diplomatic efforts continue alongside these threats. The Trump administration has permitted a "core delegation" of Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Trump indicated he would be open to meeting President Pezeshkian.

Iran has continued restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran reiterated it will not reopen the strait until conditions tied to a June ceasefire agreement are met. That agreement collapsed in July, stalling diplomatic efforts. The Houthis’ position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait threatens another major route for energy and commercial shipments.

Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent warned there is no military solution to the Iran issue. He urged the White House to consider withdrawing troops from the Middle East instead.