Broker for US Defense Chief Sought Weapons Stock Payout Before Iran War

A broker for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to make a major investment in weapons stocks just weeks before the US and Israel attacked Iran, according to a report. The Financial Times reported the story on Monday. It cited three unnamed sources. The broker at Morgan Stanley allegedly tried to buy a large bundle of defense company shares. This attempt occurred shortly before the war Hegseth has publicly and strongly supported. The proposed trade was ultimately blocked by the bank’s compliance department. Such a trade could raise ethical and legal concerns, including potential insider trading. Insider trading is the illegal use of non-public information to make a profit on the stock market. Morgan Stanley and the Pentagon have not commented on the report.