https://sputniknews.in/20260518/10928969.html
Suspicious Iran War Bets Raise Insider Trading Concerns — Reports
Suspicious Iran War Bets Raise Insider Trading Concerns — Reports
Sputnik India
Federal investigators are probing suspicious oil market trades made shortly before a US announcement on talks with Iran, American media reported.
2026-05-18T09:43+0530
2026-05-18T09:43+0530
2026-05-18T10:00+0530
defenсe news
iran
us
stock price manipulation
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.in/img/07e9/0a/0c/9910883_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ed6080da2432c9260f93756d0b42ddd1.jpg
More than $800 million was staked on oil prices dropping at 6:50 a.m. on March 23. Fifteen minutes later, an announcement about “very good and productive” talks with Iran sent oil prices down by more than 10%.The report also points to prediction markets, where nine connected Polymarket accounts allegedly made more than $2.4 million betting almost exclusively on US military actions in the Iran war, with a 98% win rate across more than 80 bets.The case highlights a growing problem in US war machine: when military decisions, ceasefire announcements and market-moving policy shifts become betting opportunities, insiders may profit while ordinary citizens pay the price through fuel costs and economic uncertainty.
iran
us
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2026
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
News
en_IN
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik India
feedback.hindi@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
iran, us, stock price manipulation
iran, us, stock price manipulation
Suspicious Iran War Bets Raise Insider Trading Concerns — Reports
09:43 18.05.2026 (Updated: 10:00 18.05.2026) Federal investigators are probing suspicious oil market trades made shortly before a US announcement on talks with Iran, American media reported.
More than $800 million was staked on oil prices dropping at 6:50 a.m. on March 23. Fifteen minutes later, an announcement about “very good and productive” talks with Iran sent oil prices down by more than 10%.
“We’re talking tens of millions, could be $80 million,” Former commodities trader David Kovel said.
The report also points to prediction markets, where nine connected Polymarket accounts allegedly made more than $2.4 million betting almost exclusively on US military actions in the Iran war, with a 98% win rate across more than 80 bets.
“Luck alone cannot explain those numbers,” Bubblemaps CEO Nicolas Vaiman said.
The case highlights a growing problem in US war machine: when military decisions, ceasefire announcements and market-moving policy shifts become betting opportunities, insiders may profit while ordinary citizens pay the price through fuel costs and economic uncertainty.
