Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei spent Monday doing what Supreme Leaders do best: talking tough on social media while the actual war grinds on. In a post on X, he mocked the US and predicted that Tehran's enemies would eventually be booted out of the Middle East entirely.

Khamenei Salutes the Guardians of Hormuz

Khamenei wrote that the "enemies" of Tehran had taken "painful blows" from "the valiant [Iranian] fighters" and the "guardians" of the Strait of Hormuz. Because of that, he said, "they dare not advance beyond the Arabian Sea." He didn't stop there, adding that "it won't be long before the Arabian Sea rids itself of their presence too."

The post, dated September 28, 2026, is the kind of rhetoric that sounds less like a military assessment and more like a victory lap taken before the race is over. But in a war that has already reshaped global energy markets, words carry weight.

Eight US Marines Injured in Hormuz Strikes

On Sunday, NBC News, citing three unnamed US officials, reported that eight US Marines had suffered smoke inhalation and possible head trauma, showing symptoms like concussions and headaches. The good news: their injuries were not serious. The officials declined to say what type of ship the Marines were on, but confirmed they were not aboard a US Navy vessel. The attack had not been reported previously.

The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to MarketDash's request for comment.

Earlier this month, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had struck two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied those claims. So we have dueling narratives, which is basically the default setting for this conflict.

Blinken Sees Echoes of Obama's Iran Deal

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken weighed in Monday on President Donald Trump's reported offer for a deal, saying that Trump's proposal of sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for a nuclear pullback, part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, echoed former President Barack Obama's 2015 Iran nuclear deal. History may not repeat, but it sure does rhyme.

Meanwhile, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reaffirmed Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, saying customers were paying up to $50 in premiums to source oil ever since the war began in February 2026. He also took the opportunity to slam Trump.

Oil and Gas Keep Moving

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures contracts expiring in November rose 0.75% to $93.28 at press time. Brent futures contracts expiring in November were up 0.59% to $98.41.

The United States Oil Fund (NYSE: USO) ETF was up 0.05% at $150.08, while the ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (NYSE: UCO) ETF gained 0.53% to $53.39.

On the fuel costs front, gas prices in the US have surged in recent weeks. Data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed the national average price of gas fell slightly to $4.4768/gallon on Monday. Diesel prices also declined to $6.45311/gallon on Monday. Small mercies.