Morning Briefing: Friday 22 May 2026
- Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive that Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium must remain inside the country. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that the United States “will get” the stockpile anyway and would “probably destroy it” afterwards; he also rejected Iran’s proposed Strait of Hormuz transit fees with “It’s an international waterway.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the tolls would “make a diplomatic deal unfeasible” but said there were “some good signs”. Brent has eased further to $103.60.
- UK net migration fell sharply to 171,000 last year, the lowest level since the COVID pandemic and the lowest non-pandemic figure since 2012. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the data showed his government was “delivering” on its promise to regain control of UK borders, adding: “I know there’s more to do.” Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said today the migration trend is “significantly down” but “needs to fall further” — bracketing the Burnham Makerfield campaign with Home Office Shabana Mahmood’s skills-based migration programme.
- The London mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked a £50 million Met Police-Palantir AI contract, citing a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules. Palantir’s UK head Louis Mosley hit back at the mayor today, accusing him of “putting politics above public safety”. The block is the largest UK police rejection of US AI procurement to date and creates a substantive policy split inside Labour over Palantir’s expanding NHS and policing footprint.
Khamenei Directive; Uranium “Should Not Leave the Country”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive that Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium “should not leave the country” on Thursday citing two senior Iranian sources, hardening Tehran’s stance on one of the central US…
Trump “We Will Get It”; Hormuz “International Waterway”
President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that the United States “will get” Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium — in direct response to the Khamenei directive. “We will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t…
Rubio “Hormuz Tolls Make Deal Unfeasible”; “Completely Illegal”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday that a diplomatic deal between the United States and Iran would be “unfeasible” if Tehran implemented a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. “No one in the world is in favour…
Iran “Mafia-Esque Protection Racket”; $150,000 Per-Transit Fee
The Institute for the Study of War continues to assess that Iran is using the ceasefire to “normalize Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz” via a multi-tiered transit-fee scheme run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Russia an…
India Won’t Send More Tankers Until 13 Stranded Ships Return
India’s government wants to secure the return of its ships stranded in the Gulf before sending any vessels back to load fuel. India will send vessels to the west of the Strait of Hormuz “whenever the situation becomes conducive”, the offic…
UK Net Migration 171,000; Lowest Non-Pandemic Figure Since 2012
UK net migration fell to 171,000 in 2025 — the lowest level since the COVID pandemic and the lowest non-pandemic figure since 2012 — according to Office for National Statistics data released on Thursday. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sai…
Burnham (BBC): Net Migration “Needs to Fall Further”; Trend “Significantly Down”
Andy Burnham said today that UK net migration “needs to fall further”, after Home Office figures showed it had almost halved since 2024. The Greater Manchester mayor said the latest figures — net migration of 171,000 in 2025 — show the “tr…
Khan Blocks Met-Palantir £50m; “Clear and Serious Breach”
London mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked a £50 million contract between the Metropolitan Police and the controversial US tech company Palantir, with City Hall citing a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules. Scotland Yard had been in t…
Palantir Hits Back; Accuses Khan of “Politics Above Public Safety”
Palantir has accused Sir Sadiq Khan of “putting politics above public safety” after the London mayor blocked its £50 million Met Police contract. Louis Mosley, who heads Palantir in the UK and Europe, accused Khan of politicising procureme…
Andrew Trade Envoy Files Released; Queen “Very Keen”
Newly released government files suggest the late Queen Elizabeth II was “very keen” for Prince Andrew to be made a UK trade envoy. The documents, released yesterday, highlight the role of the Queen and show “no evidence” of a formal vettin…