Representative Ritchie Torres has called for a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into futures trades that were placed ahead of a March pause in hostilities involving Iran, according to reports from multiple news outlets.

The congressman has characterized the trading activity as "suspicious," suggesting the timing of the trades may have been based on advance knowledge of the diplomatic developments. The specific nature of the futures contracts and the scale of the trading activity have not been disclosed.

The March pause in Iran-related hostilities appears to have created market conditions that would have benefited traders who positioned themselves ahead of the announcement. Such timing raises questions about whether non-public information was used to make investment decisions.

The SEC has not yet responded to Torres' request for an investigation. Federal securities laws prohibit trading based on material non-public information, and investigations into suspicious trading patterns around major geopolitical events are not uncommon.

Torres' call for the probe comes amid broader scrutiny of trading activities that appear to anticipate significant political or military developments. The congressman has not provided specific details about which traders or firms may have been involved in the questionable activity.