Traders placed $7 billion of WTI crude oil futures contracts within a two-minute window immediately before President Trump’s remarks on Iran, concentrating a massive volume into an unusually brief period.

The surge in orders coincided with a rapid climb in oil prices as the market digested potential supply disruptions, before prices later retraced some gains once full policy details emerged.

The timing and scale of these block trades raise questions about whether participants anticipated the announcement, suggesting information asymmetry could be influencing futures markets.

Exchanges and oversight bodies may review trading logs for potential rule violations, while traders brace for continued volatility driven by geopolitical developments.