US‑Iran War Triggers White House Insider‑Trading Probe and Market Betting Frenzy

White House officials have opened an investigation after more than $600,000 was wagered on prediction‑market platforms about the outcome of the US‑Iran war. A memo circulated to staff bans the use of non‑public government information for financial gain, and regulators are probing whether insiders, including former Trump teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez, used early access to speeches to place bets.

The conflict itself has intensified, with US strikes on Iranian infrastructure and Iranian attacks on US bases in Jordan and Syria that killed two Americans. Tehran has responded with calibrated strikes on desalination plants in Kuwait and other GCC targets, arguing it is defending regional assets rather than opening new fronts. The escalation heightens tensions for Gulf states such as Qatar and Oman and raises concerns about broader economic and security repercussions.