The Pentagon chief is suspected of attempting to engage in insider trading ahead of the war with Iran

Pentagon chief Pete Hegset is suspected of attempting to invest in defense companies on the eve of a war with Iran.

This was reported by the Financial Times.

According to the publication, in February, a broker linked to Hegset attempted to invest a significant amount in the iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF through BlackRock. The fund’s portfolio includes the largest U.S. defense companies, including RTX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

However, the deal did not go through because the fund was unavailable to Morgan Stanley clients.

The Pentagon denied these claims, stating that the information is “completely false and fabricated.” They also emphasized that neither Hegset nor his representatives had contacted BlackRock.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio spoke about internal “fissures” within the Iranian leadership. According to him, certain groups in Iran may be ready to take a new path, although the details of the negotiations are being kept secret.

Israel has resumed bombing the southern suburbs of Beirut and continues airstrikes in southern Lebanon. One of the strikes hit an army checkpoint, killing a soldier. 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also warned that any attempts to destabilize the country will be decisively stopped. The authorities are prepared to act decisively, including through arrests and the seizure of weapons. Aoun emphasized that no one in Lebanon wants a civil war, and those who try to take advantage of the situation will fail.