ahmadinejad calls oil price hikes manipulated, page-12

"Like a good economist,"

What a bunch of nonsense. Ahmadinejad is no economist, his people suffer double digit unemployment and inflation. He has brought about significant price controls, subsidies and other distortions that have spawned massive corruption.

"Specifically he said, “At a time when the growth of consumption is lower than the growth of production and the market is full of oil, prices are rising, and this trend is completely fake and imposed.”"

It is the total level of demand and supply not the growth in these that is important for short term prices. Sure production may now be increasing faster than consumption, but this is probably due to a combination of price signals and demand destruction.

“The dollar is being manipulated weaker, too.”

Bollocks - US interest rates are relatively low, causing capital outflow and hence a depreciation. This is the primary cause, although there are other (purely economic, not conspiratorial) reasons.

"After all he should know. Iran is the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter."

So this makes him an expert on world oil markets? OPEC are well aware that their cartel causes distorted prices, and it is a matter of fact that it his in his countries (and his own) best interests that oil prices be higher.

"Ahmadinejad, obviously no fool"

He is a fool, a dangerous fool, and anyone who lauds his regime is equally ignorant.