The White House has cautioned its staff against placing bets on futures markets using nonpublic information, an official said. The warning follows a pause in strikes on Iran and comes amid scrutiny over suspicious trades ahead of key policy decisions. A large bet on oil futures preceded a delay in attacks on Iran's energy sites, after which prices fell.
An official confirmed that the White House issued the caution to employees after halting strikes on Iran. Staff were told not to leverage their positions for trades on futures markets, amid concerns over potential leaks of sensitive information. This step addresses questions raised by well-timed financial bets before major announcements on the Iran conflict. Suspicion has centered on a significant wager on crude oil futures. Traders placed the bet just before the US delayed attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure. Oil prices subsequently dropped, prompting investigations into whether insiders profited from advance knowledge. Keywords associated with the issue include Trump, nonpublic information, policy decisions, and Congress, though no direct links were detailed. The guidance aims to prevent any misuse of privileged details during the ongoing tensions with Iran.
