Andrew Bridgen: Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenai...
Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenai hit by the double blows of sanctions and a falling London property market? TWO LUXURY KENSINGTON PENTHOUSES LINKED TO KHAMENEI NETWORK PUT UP FOR SALE Two luxury penthouses in London’s exclusive Kensington district, linked by Western authorities to the financial network surrounding Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, have reportedly been placed on the market after Iranian banker Ali Ansari was sanctioned and subsequently defaulted on mortgages secured against the properties. The apartments are at 3a Palace Green, close to Kensington Palace and the Israeli Embassy, and were purchased in 2014 and 2016 for £16.75 million and £19 million respectively, giving a combined purchase price of £35.75 million. One of the properties, a five bedroom duplex extending across approximately 3,944 square feet, is now being offered for just under £12 million. The asking price for the second penthouse has not been publicly disclosed. The properties are registered to Ali Ansari, an Iranian businessman and banker who was sanctioned by the United States Treasury in July 2026. US authorities have accused Ansari of overseeing a global network of companies and assets benefiting Khamenei, his family and other members of Iran’s ruling elite. European authorities have made similar findings, stating that Ansari used a network of companies to acquire substantial assets, including property in Britain and Europe, on behalf of people connected to the Iranian leadership, including Khamenei. Ansari has denied allegations concerning his links to the Iranian leadership. The British Government has also confirmed in Parliament that UK property belonging to Ansari has been frozen following sanctions. The reported sale of the two multimillion pound Kensington properties comes amid continuing scrutiny of Iranian linked wealth held in Britain and the international network of companies, financial interests and high value assets that Western authorities say has operated for the benefit of senior figures within the Iranian leadership. The penthouses are now reportedly heading onto the open market following the mortgage defaults, bringing two of the most valuable London properties connected to Ansari’s sanctioned financial network under renewed scrutiny.
Alex Wickham: EXCLUSIVE...
EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham is considering requests from Saudi Arabia for a range of military support to counter attacks from the Houthis, as the UK fears a “catastrophic” economic hit from a new front in the Iran war. The Saudi asks include operational support for its military to repel the Houthis’ push along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key trade chokepoint, and help to defend against strikes on its oil infrastructure, sources tell Bloomberg. Burnham has agreed to send British military advisers to Saudi Arabia in response to the requests, sources say. It’s unclear whether he’s willing to approve the other asks, which haven’t been disclosed by the UK government. The Foreign Office and MoD declined to answer questions. Burnham is facing one of his first major foreign policy and economic dilemmas since he became PM. Britain is determined not to get drawn into the conflict, not least because it didn’t support Trump’s war on Iran. Yet the crisis poses serious challenges ahead of next month’s budget. Burnham has been advised by his officials that if the Houthis take control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait it will have a “catastrophic” impact on international shipping and provide another hit to the global economy through a further spike in the oil price and inflation, the sources said. The Houthi attacks have sent Brent crude toward $110 a barrel. Gilts extended a drop today as money markets added to bets on Bank of England interest rate rises off the back of inflation fears. Traders now fully price five quarter-point BoE hikes by the end of 2027, an outcome that would badly complicate the PM’s key pledge to reduce the cost-of-living. The Treasury is also worried that the recent escalation is taking place as the OBR prepares its economic and fiscal forecasts for the budget. John Healey had been hoping for a market reprieve during the assessment window. Instead it’s going further in the wrong direction and potentially leaving the chancellor with even more of a fiscal hole. Under Rishi Sunak the UK hit Houthi targets in Yemen to combat disruption in the Red Sea. Under Keir Starmer it deployed Sky Sabre air defences to help Riyadh.
Ben Habib: Funny how Westminster tolerated...
Funny how Westminster tolerated big money in politics for decades while Labour and the Conservatives were collecting it. Now a challenger has the resources to compete and suddenly the establishment wants to change the rules. What an extraordinary coincidence.
Patrick Christys: Apparently some lefty just said...
Apparently some lefty just said on @MichelleDewbs show that my report from Northern France ‘is exaggerated’ - my family has had death threats from illegal migrant gangs and we’ve been physically attacked several times in the last few days - all on camera. Watch 9-11pm @GBNEWS
Adam Brooks: It’s getting harder and harder...
It’s getting harder and harder for Labour to excuse their own Government actions. Now as I said on air. I like Barry a lot, we get on… But I want hold back in my anger at the damage his party are doing in Government.Pouria Zeraati: The best decision that "MBS"...
The best decision that "MBS" can make [especially after Turkey and Pakistan reneged on the Mecca agreement], is to move forward with operations in Yemen with Israel's full involvement, and ultimately have it end with Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords. In the Middle East, only the Israelis know how to deal with terrorism and saber-rattling. News: "Israel Hayom" has reported that the Saudi crown prince has requested help from regional countries to counter the Houthis; including an indirect request through CENTCOM to Israel to provide intelligence and other support to Saudi Arabia to prevent the regime's minions from closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Aaron Bastani: Britain is running a £100 billion...
Britain is running a £100 billion deficit. Even now, after everything, the Tories have one trick. And it’s been the same since the early 1980s: deficit funded tax cuts.
Daniel Lacalle: Spain illegal immigrant debacle...
Spain illegal immigrant debacle. Ceuta. Thousands remain, taking over the streets. The government gives them free wifi, food and wants to send them to other regions instead of expelling them.Adam Brooks: If Labour suddenly make those...
If Labour suddenly make those 72 million pound Reform UK donations illegal… they’ll pay for it with the backlash. It will cost them
Lee Hurst: What could cut the energy...
What could cut the energy bills even further for the long term unemployed would be if they left their homes during the day and got a job.Aaron Bastani: Britain is running a £100 billion...
Britain is running a £100 billion deficit. Even now, after everything, the Tories have one trick. And it’s been the same since the early 1980s: deficit funded tax cuts.Andrew Bridgen: Flock cameras covered...
Flock cameras covered over after concerns about privacy in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. What about individual freedom and privacy in the UK ?Ben Habib: A week ago Reform was drowning...
A week ago Reform was drowning in sleaze. Then two billionaires moved to insulate the party. Whatever happens with the various regulatory and criminal investigations, Reform is likely to survive.
Martin Geddes: If true, then national elections...
If true, then national elections are pointless exercises in measuring iatrogenic injury, and a jury of one’s peers is nigh impossible to assemble.
Philip Proudfoot: False. Reform is the party...
False. Reform is the party of weirdo crypto-traders and Israel. It’s a party of traitors to Britain, who defend Israel’s assault on our diplomatic institutions, and billionaires assault on our democracy.Andrew Bridgen: Canadian PM Mark Carney...
Canadian PM Mark Carney is landing at Manchester airport on Wednesday evening and leaving 7 hours later. Perhaps Carney is meeting Burnham on his way to Ukraine ? Two PM’s running formerly great countries into the ground. Whatever they will discuss it won’t be good for us.
Ben Judah: If Labour foreign policy were truly...
If Labour foreign policy were truly agile it would seize on this as also a landing zone for now for Britain and Ukraine and present this to the country as a compromise.Pouria Zeraati: The governor of Qeshm...
Important/ The governor of Qeshm announced that today around 5 a.m., a commercial ship in the vicinity of Hengam Island and Shib Deraz beach on Qeshm Island was targeted in an attack. One person was killed and three were injured. CENTCOM has not yet confirmed this news, but two or three hours ago it was announced that the IRGC had attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. It's likely that the U.S. responded immediately [ship against ship].
Cameron Hudson: "All the ingredients for a regional...
"All the ingredients for a regional catastrophe are in place but what is missing is the will to treat Sudan’s war as a runaway catastrophe, because every month of delay allows the pipelines to harden, the fault lines to deepen, and the human cost to climb."Lee Hurst: Imagine how more effective...
Imagine how more effective Leftist’s support for the Palestinians would be if they didn’t give a free pass to the bad Palestinians for rape, kidnap and murder.Pouria Zeraati: Important...
Important/ The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that the Islamic Republic had obtained high-resolution satellite images of the base from China prior to the July 17 attack on the Mu'affaq al-Salti airbase in Jordan, in which three American soldiers were killed. U.S. officials say the regime's ability to identify and target American positions has significantly improved since the summer; of course, the Chinese images were just one of the Islamic Republic's intelligence sources, and it has also made use of assistance from Russia alongside them.Philip Proudfoot: Labour, hilariously, acting as if...
Labour, hilariously, acting as if they’re not the governing party, and could therefore immediately change party financing rules to stop obscenely large donations to political parties. Instead, give us 3 quid please!
David Kurten: Tourist Tax Bombshell Burnham's new...
Tourist Tax Bombshell Burnham's new Tourist Tax raising powers for Metro/Regional/County Mayors is another hammer blow for hard-pressed businesses, families and individuals struggling with the cost of living. No To Tourist Taxes.Ben Judah: Labour paying the £36 million...
Labour paying the £36 million pound price for its foolish cautious approach to party donations and funding. If anywhere there needed to a radical rule re-set it was here.
Edwin Hayward: This could turn out to be Britain's...
This could turn out to be Britain's most stupid decision since Brexit. If we put the drawbridge up locally against advanced AI and nobody else does, we'll hand a wild competitive advantage to competitor nations. (My hunch is none of the signatories understand the situation.)David Kurten: Mixed thoughts on this...
Mixed thoughts on this. No sympathy for virtue signalling 'refugees welcome' LibDem voters who want masses of migrants everywhere else except their own village. But it is England and we must save every corner of our land from being trashed by the replacement migration program of the uniparty. (Wales, Scotland and N Ireland too.)Ben Judah: There is still a section of the British Right...
There is still a section of the British Right that think this is their guy and the European Commission is their enemy.
Jake Hanrahan: HTS forces terrorising Kobanî...
HTS forces terrorising Kobanî. Why is no one protecting the people?Adam Brooks: Oh look…
Oh look… yet again, the “Stand up To Racism “ protesters are all middle class white lefties. The same happened in Clacton when I was there. If there was a racism problem, they’d be many of different skin colours. There isn’t.Read more