The US judicial institution is investigating unusually high trading in the oil market prior to a major announcement related to the Iran war.

According to ABC News, sources familiar with the matter said that the Department of Justice in the United States is investigating a series of suspicious oil market trades that took place shortly before major announcements related to the Iran war. The Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are investigating at least four related trades, where traders collectively bet over $2.6 billion on shorting crude oil before the oil price dropped. ABC News obtained data on these four trades from the London Stock Exchange Group. On March 23rd, just 15 minutes before Trump announced a delay in the planned attack on Iran's electrical grid, traders bet over $500 million on the oil price falling; on April 7th, a few hours before Trump announced a temporary ceasefire, traders bet $9.6 billion on the oil price falling; on April 17th, just 20 minutes before Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif wrote that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open, traders bet $7.6 billion on the oil price falling; on April 21st, just 15 minutes before Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire, traders collectively bet $4.3 billion on the oil price falling.