ZEIT.FINANCE

The Middle East calms down and oil drifts lower through 2026

Middle Eastern conflicts de-escalate over 2026, and this calm pushes oil prices lower.

Potential upside
+692%
Payout7.9×
per $1 on the 6 core bets · 1× = money back
Market odds27%
what the market priced those 6 at when this was saved
9betsfirst verdictAug 31, 2026in 13 days
+5

Bet timeline: 9 markets, first verdict Aug 31, 2026, last Dec 31, 2026

  • Will the US officially declare war on Iran by December 31, 2026?, Dec 31, 2026 (in 4 months), still open
  • Israel x Hamas Ceasefire Phase II by December 31?, Dec 31, 2026 (in 4 months), still open
  • Israel x Iran ceasefire continues through...?, Dec 31, 2026 (in 4 months), still open
  • Israel ground operation in Iran confirmed by...?, Dec 31, 2026 (in 4 months), still open
  • US reissues Iran oil sanction relief by August 31?, Aug 31, 2026 (in 13 days), still open
  • What will WTI Crude Oil (WTI) hit in August 2026?, Sep 1, 2026 (in 14 days), still open
  • Will gas hit $3.25 by end of August?, Aug 31, 2026 (in 13 days), still open
  • Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by August 31?, Aug 31, 2026 (in 13 days), still open
  • Avg. # of ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb Strait end of August?, Aug 31, 2026 (in 13 days), still open

Money back if its biggest bet lands. First verdict Aug 31, 2026.

Build your own
Loading performance…

What has to be true

Every claim this book is built on, and what has happened to it so far.

What shows up first

  1. Gaza ceasefire holds through 2026 without collapse into full-scale war36%at save

    This book backs

    ceasefire holds / YES

    What that looks like: Gaza ceasefire renewed past initial phases without resumption of major combat

    • Israel x Hamas Ceasefire Phase II by December 31?Yes36%

    Markets last priced this at 36%

  2. No new direct Israel-Iran military strike exchange occurs in 202659%at save

    This book backs

    no strikes / de-escalation

    What that looks like: No reported Israel-Iran missile or airstrike exchange through Q1 2026

    • December 31Israel x Iran ceasefire continues through...?62%
    • Will the US officially declare war on Iran by December 31, 2026?Yes3%
    • +1 more bet

    Markets last priced this at 59%

  3. Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping decline substantially in 20266%at save

    This book backs

    attacks decline

    What that looks like: Monthly count of Houthi attacks on shipping falls toward zero

    • 40 or moreAvg. # of ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb Strait end of August?6%

    Markets last priced this at 6%

  4. OPEC+ maintains or further raises production quotas through 2026

    This book backs

    output rises

    What that looks like: OPEC+ announces a further output increase

    No bet in this book covers this claim.

What confirms it

  1. Iran and the US/West reach a nuclear or sanctions-relief de-escalation understanding in 202613%at save

    This book backs

    YES, understanding reached

    What that looks like: Iran-US indirect talks resume or a framework agreement is announced

    • US reissues Iran oil sanction relief by August 31?Yes13%

    Markets last priced this at 13%

  2. Syria stabilizes post-Assad without renewed major civil conflict in 2026

    This book backs

    stability holds

    What that looks like: No major escalation of internal conflict reported in Syria

    No bet in this book covers this claim.

  3. Brent crude falls below $65/barrel at some point during 202615%at save

    This book backs

    Brent below $65

    What that looks like: Brent settles below $65/barrel

    • Low $70What will WTI Crude Oil (WTI) hit in August 2026?17%
    • Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by August 31?Yes2%

    Markets last priced this at 15%

  4. US CPI inflation cools further, aided by falling energy prices

    This book backs

    inflation cools

    What that looks like: Monthly CPI print shows a declining energy component

    No bet in this book covers this claim.

What pays it off

  1. Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization talks advance or a deal is announced

    This book backs

    normalization advances

    What that looks like: Formal Saudi-Israel normalization announcement

    No bet in this book covers this claim.

  2. US average gasoline price falls year-over-year in 20267%at save

    This book backs

    gas price lower

    What that looks like: National average gasoline price below prior-year level

    • Low $3.25Will gas hit … by end of August?7%

    Markets last priced this at 7%

  3. Suez Canal / Red Sea shipping traffic recovers toward pre-crisis levels in 2026

    This book backs

    traffic recovers

    What that looks like: Suez Canal transit volumes rise back toward 2023 levels

    No bet in this book covers this claim.

  4. Federal Reserve continues cutting interest rates through 2026

    This book backs

    rate cuts continue

    What that looks like: Fed announces a further rate cut

    No bet in this book covers this claim.

If only some of it happens

Drag to see what a partial hit pays.

If 5 of these 9 outcomes occur →≈3.7×per $1
Stake back at 5 of 9

Worst case 1.5× · typically 3.7× · best case per $1.

Pick which ones
BetWhat it adds per $1

What brings the money back

Money back · 1 of 9this bet landing returns the full stake.

Markets priced these odds at around 17%. : around 34%.

Doubled · 1 of 9this bet landing returns 2× the stake.

Markets priced these odds at around 6%. : around 12%.

Any 5 of the 9 bets landing returns the stake, whichever 5 they are. The bets named above are the fastest route, not the only one.

Where the money sits

9 bets, ranked by how much of the stake each one holds.

+692%9 bets

December 31

Israel x Iran ceasefire continues through...?

25%1.6×

40 or more

Avg. # of ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb Strait end of August?

23%18.2×

Low $70

What will WTI Crude Oil (WTI) hit in August 2026?

23%6.1×

Israel x Hamas Ceasefire Phase II by December 31?

12%2.8×
Below a flat split

US reissues Iran oil sanction relief by August 31?

10%7.7×

Low $3.25

3.0%15.4×

Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by August 31?

2.0%54.1×

Will the US officially declare war on Iran by December 31, 2026?

<1%31.7×

December

<1%6.1×

Bar length is share of the stake; the longest is 25%. The second rule marks an equal split.

All 9 bets, and how each is sized.

Think something different? Price it.

Build your own