It was another fun-filled weekend at the Martenson property. I spent most of my time tackling projects that mount faster than I can dispatch them. But I also took time to go bowling with my son, and we are nothing if not self-competitive, always striving to get better.
Tracking the Weekend War
It was another weekend of military love taps between the U.S. and Iran and another weekend where the hostilities began after market close on Friday and ceased before futures opened again for trading on Sunday night.
Iran hit a couple of vessels that were not following Iran’s rules.
ANOTHER VESSEL WAS HIT ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ https://t.co/zoFWpBYkEQ
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) June 27, 2026
The US responded, but not until after its precious markets closed on Friday:
BREAKING: The Pentagon deliberately delayed publicly announcing yesterday's US strikes on Iran until after financial markets had closed at 4 PM ET on Friday, with the timing intended to reduce the immediate impact on financial markets, including oil prices, per NBC.The strikes…
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) June 27, 2026
As is now customary, US officials claimed that the love-taps were over and that peace was right around the corner just minutes before ““markets”” opened back up Sunday night:
Right before markets open, you say? NO WAY!Alternatively, we're being played and Iran is in on it.Efamaol. https://t.co/T0ofJGQUs3
— Chris Martenson (@chrismartenson) June 28, 2026
It’s all so obviously manipulated that pretty much everybody is noticing now.
Legendary big-time stock shorter James asks:
At this point don’t we have to assume that Iran is in on the grift…? It’s literally the same story leaked every Sunday afternoon. https://t.co/6NV8kJ5dCl
— James Chanos (@RealJimChanos) June 28, 2026
Right on cue, and 2 hours before the NYSE open, Trump blasted this out:
IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA! President DJT( TS: Jun 29 2026, 7:31 AM ET ) pic.twitter.com/YzMslVifQz
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) June 29, 2026
If this is true, then we have to ask why Iran is so compliant with Trump’s desires to goose US equity markets and dump oil? Seems one of their key levers is not being used. Very strange.
IRAN-U.S. TALKS SET TO CONTINUEU.S. and Iranian technical teams are set to meet in Doha in the coming days to advance implementation of their agreement, a diplomatic source said.Communication channels remain open to help prevent escalation, while President Trump said…
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) June 29, 2026
This is how we know the talks are not meant to be taken seriously:
BREAKING: JARED KUSHNER & STEVE WITKOFF WILL REPORTEDLY ATTEND THE US/IRAN TALKS IN DOHA TOMORROW pic.twitter.com/wLWv48z2RK
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) June 29, 2026
I have to wonder if Iran has completely given up on its Lebanon demands? This explosion was so massive it
by mathias_thorvik 
