Opinion: As Trump and Netanyahu launch strikes against Iran, questions persist about their ongoing legal struggles
Donald Trump‘s unacceptable moves in the Middle East continue to fuel a volatile economy. His latest action, striking Iran, further weakens any claim of productive talks between the United States and Tehran. Several issues are at the heart of a protracted series of events, but this war is a conflict largely driven by the Trump and Netanyahu administrations.
As history goes, regime change has been an initiative led by Tel Aviv, with a series of question marks raised in the direction of Iran’s administration. However, that query is reciprocated toward Israel, too.
The Donald Trump Bet
Donald Trump has been accused of market manipulation following a series of statements by the US President, including alleged expectations in negotiations and ceasefires. This led to several unusual trades following Trump’s announcements of Iranian talks, prompting journalists and investigators to highlight unusually large oil futures positions being opened mere minutes before his statements.
US Senators probing the situation concluded: “This pattern raises serious questions about whether there has been recurring misappropriation of material nonpublic government information and about the extent to which individuals inside or outside the government have acted on such information.”
In one case, approximately $580 million in oil futures contracts were traded 15 minutes before Donald Trump’s statements on a pause in strikes, citing “productive” talks with Tehran.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Endless War
In recent months, Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has continued to fight in the Middle East on several fronts, including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and, of course, strikes on Iran. However, Netanyahu’s legal problems — known as Case 1000, 2000, and 4000 — relating to bribery, fraud, and breaches of trust are ongoing, though they have experienced intermittent delays. In some cases, legal challengers accuse the Prime Minister of receiving expensive gifts, including cigars, champagne, and jewellery, from influential businessmen in return for political leniency.
While these problems are not necessarily tied to the conflict in the Middle East, they do warrant scrutiny. With Trump constantly under the microscope, US senators have called for an examination of his controversial time in office.
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