There are many ways of manipulations, some ways can be visible or can be traced while others can be subtle. Now, even just holding Bitcoin and not selling at the current price can be in a way a form of manipulation. In case it is true that in Iran Bitcoin has already reached a very high premium price, it can be because there are people who are looking for this cryptocurrency maybe as a form of preserving their wealth in the face of a "possible" war with a big country like the USA. Had there been no demand there will be no such a surge in price. The same thing with oil. In any case of a sudden burst of price, there will always be people who can be benefited and that is just very normal. There will be people who are lucky enough that can turn problems into opportunities.