Are insider traders making millions from the Iran war?
Global News Podcast
BBC
4.3 • 8.2K Ratings
🗓️ 20 April 2026
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The BBC has found a pattern of spikes in trades on financial markets ahead of public announcements by President Trump, including during the Iran war. It's raised suspicions of insider trading, where bets are made based on information that's not available to the general public. However, some argue that certain traders have become more adept at anticipating the president's interventions. Also: potential peace talks between the US and Iran have been thrown into doubt after American marines seized an Iranian-flagged ship. A strong earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered tsunami alerts. And a warning about a new and very powerful AI model.
The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.5 | With American politics, everything seems to be changing by the second. |
| 0:11.9 | Yeah, sometimes the news does a full 180 while we're recording the podcast. |
| 0:16.4 | It can be a difficult job, but we stay up to date on your behalf. |
| 0:19.9 | Make sense of what's happening in the U.S. |
| 0:21.8 | with new podcast episodes throughout the week. |
| 0:24.2 | America's. Listen on BBC Sound. |
| 0:27.5 | This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:32.4 | I'm Celia Hatton, and at 1,500 GMT on Monday, the 20th of April, these are our main stories. |
| 0:39.5 | BBC investigation has found that traders have repeatedly bet huge sums just before |
| 0:44.8 | major announcements by President Trump, raising suspicions of insider trading. |
| 0:50.3 | We have the latest on the chances of peace talks between the United States and Iran to end the war. |
| 0:56.1 | The Iranians like to take as long as possible before they make what are really difficult political concessions. |
| 1:02.8 | President Trump likes to take as little time as possible. |
| 1:06.4 | And we'll hear how the fighting in the Middle East is affecting businesses in Kenya. |
| 1:12.6 | Also in this podcast, an earthquake in Japan leads to a tsunami warning and evacuations. |
| 1:19.2 | And residents of burnt out tower blocks in Hong Kong return to see inside their destroyed homes. |
| 1:28.8 | We begin with a BBC investigative story. |
| 1:32.3 | Throughout Donald Trump's second term, and particularly during the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, |
| 1:38.2 | we've seen how his words can impact the global economy. |
| 1:42.3 | Now, the BBC's found evidence of trading on financial markets |
| 1:46.1 | spiking in the hours and sometimes minutes before the president's statements are made. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.