Oil Shorts Before Iran Peace News Spark Scrutiny Over Market Timing

Oil prices plunged after reports that the US and Iran were nearing a peace deal, with commentators noting a nearly $1 billion pre-news short positioned about an hour before Axios published the update; Kobeissi Letter flagged the trades as unusually large and ex-JPMorgan quant Marko Kolanovic called the moves 'blatantly manipulated markets.' Analysts warn that mixed signals about a durable peace could keep volatility high, even as Brent and WTI fell around 12–13% on the news (roughly $101.93 and $95.06 respectively) as markets priced in an end to the war.