Unidentified traders executed a highly suspicious $430-million bearish bet on crude oil futures roughly 15 minutes before President Trump announced an indefinite extension of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. The traders placed a total of 4,260 sell orders for Brent crude futures during a “post-settlement” period when trading volume is typically extremely low, with the directional trades occurring between 19:54 and 19:56 GMT on Tuesday, just minutes before Trump announced the extension around 20:10 GMT on Tuesday.
Brent crude prices plunged from $100.91 to a low of $96.83 per barrel within minutes after the announcement.
The Tuesday trades were the latest in a series of perfectly-timed wagers that have raked in hundreds of millions in profits in a matter of minutes, raising suspicion of insider trading.
On March 23, 2026, over $500 million in bets on falling oil prices were placed roughly 15 minutes before President Trump announced a delay in strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. LSEG data (via Reuters) showed 5,100 lots of Brent and WTI crude futures were sold between 1049 and 1050 GMT, just minutes before the 1105 GMT Truth Social post.
Following Trump’s announcement of a five-day delay on potential strikes targeting Iran’s power facilities, over 13,000 contracts (approx. 13 million barrels) were traded within 60 seconds. On April 7, 2026, a massive $950 million short position was established in oil futures just hours before a US-Iran ceasefire announcement. Around 8,600 contracts, primarily Brent and WTI crude, were traded at 19:45 GMT, shortly before a two-week ceasefire was declared by Donald Trump on Truth Social at 22:30 GMT, again raising concerns of insider trading.
On April 17, 2026, another massive and highly suspicious trade worth approximately $760 million was placed on falling oil prices just 20 minutes before Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
- US Crude Oil, Oil Product Inventories Come Crashing Down
- UK Unveils 10GW Clean Power Push to Break Gas Grip on Electricity Bills
- IEA: Strait of Hormuz Has Lost Its Status as Reliable Energy Route
