economy
May 7, 2026
U.S. Investigates $2.2 Billion in Oil Market Trades Linked to Iran War
The U.S. government has launched an investigation into suspicious operations worth $2.6 billion (2.21 billion euros) in the oil market prior to announcements by U.S. President Donald Trump and a senior Iranian government official related to the Iran war. According to ABC News, the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are investigating at least four trades that bet on oil prices falling just before they did.
TL;DR
- The U.S. government is investigating suspicious oil market operations worth $2.6 billion.
- These operations occurred before announcements by President Trump and an Iranian official concerning the Iran war.
- The Department of Justice and the CFTC are involved in the investigation.
- At least four trades are being examined where bets were placed on oil prices falling just before they did.
- Similar suspicions arose from large trades before the attack on Venezuela and announcements regarding the Iran war.
- The White House has prohibited employees from using privileged information for financial gain in betting or financial markets.
- Approximately $580 million in trades were made before President Trump's March 23rd announcement pausing attacks on Iranian facilities, followed by a drop in oil and gas prices.
- Around 6,200 Brent and WTI crude oil futures contracts changed hands in one minute before Trump's announcement.
- A U.S. special forces soldier was arrested for allegedly profiting up to $400,000 by betting on the capture of Maduro using insider information.