PANews reported on April 19th that, according to Cailian Press, just as the US and Iran were locked in a protracted ceasefire negotiation, a "mysterious mega-deal" once again appeared in the crude oil market at a crucial juncture. According to market trading data and research firm The Kobeissi Letter, at 8:24 AM Eastern Time on Friday, the crude oil market suddenly saw a surge in volume without any news, with nearly $800 million worth of transactions occurring in a short period, accompanied by a price plunge. Twenty-one minutes later, Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz was "fully open" to all merchant ships. US President Trump posted a message at 9:06 AM thanking Iran for reopening the strait. By 9:10 AM, US WTI crude oil futures had briefly fallen below $80 per barrel. The Kobeissi Letter estimated that this transaction generated a profit of $70 million in less than an hour.