Traders bet 500 million dollars before Trump Iran post
Traders bet 500 million dollars on oil minutes before President Trump announced a delay to Iran attacks. Crude prices fell as markets priced in de-escalation.
Significant market activity was recorded in the energy sector shortly before a major policy shift was announced by the United States. Traders positioned themselves with bets totaling approximately $500 million on crude oil prices just 15 minutes before a public announcement regarding a delay in military action against Iran. Exchange data and calculations indicate that between 10:49 and 10:50 GMT, market participants traded 5,100 lots of crude futures. This volume, dominated by selling, occurred immediately preceding a post on Truth Social from the American president at 11:05 GMT, which signaled a five-day delay to planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.
The impact on Brent Crude Oil was immediate, with prices plunging as much as 15% within minutes. The market reacted to indications of constructive dialogue between Washington and Tehran, raising hopes for a de-escalation that could restore millions of barrels of oil currently blocked in the Gulf. At the peak of the selloff, over 13,000 lots—equivalent to 13 million barrels of oil—changed hands in a single minute. Price levels for Brent dropped from $112 per barrel to approximately $99, while West Texas Intermediate fell from near $99 to $86.
The CME Group Inc., which operates the exchange where WTI is traded, did not provide an immediate comment on the trading activity. Similarly, the Intercontinental Exchange and various regulatory bodies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, have not issued statements regarding the timing of the large-scale trades. Despite this sharp decline, energy prices remain more than 40% higher than pre-conflict levels seen in late February, as roughly one-fifth of the global daily oil supply remains affected by the ongoing regional war. Daily trading volumes have seen a massive surge throughout the conflict, with record highs exceeding 1 million lots. Currently, Brent prices are hovering near $104 as the market weighs conflicting reports, including denials from Tehran regarding the status of negotiations.
