A secret arms-for-cash deal between Iran and a network of shadowy intermediaries has been exposed, leaving the British Royal Navy scrambling to intercept a flotilla of vessels believed to be carrying illicit cargo. Sources confirm to this outlet that the deal, structured to evade international sanctions, involves a complex web of shell companies and front banks, funnelling millions into Tehran's war chest.
The operation came to light after a whistleblower from a Dubai-based logistics firm leaked cargo manifests and encrypted payment records. The documents show a shipment of advanced drone components, precision-guided munitions, and naval mines destined for Iran's Revolutionary Guard. In return, Tehran has agreed to release billions in frozen assets held in Iraqi banks, money laundered through a series of oil-for-cash swaps.
The Royal Navy has placed its Type 45 destroyers and Astute-class submarines on high alert, tracking at least three suspect vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. A Ministry of Defence source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "We are preparing for the worst. These ships are moving under fake flags, and we have intelligence that they are armed."
At the heart of the scheme is a London-based commodities trader, once a rising star in the City, now under investigation by the National Crime Agency. His offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and a private bank in Geneva have been frozen, but the money trail leads to a labyrinth of holding companies in Hong Kong and Luxembourg.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran's uranium enrichment levels have crept closer to weapons-grade, raising fears that the deal's proceeds will accelerate its nuclear programme. A former MI6 officer told us: "This isn't just about weapons. It's a lifeline for a regime bleeding cash. Every pound they get is a pound we have to stop."
Downing Street has convened an emergency COBRA meeting, with the Prime Minister expected to brief the House of Commons later today. The US Fifth Fleet has also been placed on standby, coordinating with British warships to enforce a no-go zone around the suspected convoy.
But the most troubling aspect may be the complicity of a major international bank, whose London branch allegedly processed the transactions. Our investigation has uncovered internal emails where compliance officers raised red flags only to be overruled by senior management. The bank's CEO, a fixture at Davos, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting his firm "rigorously follows all sanctions regimes."
For the Royal Navy, this is a test of nerve. The last time British forces faced down Iranian vessels, it was a tense standoff in the Strait of Hormuz. Now, with the stakes higher and the deal's tentacles reaching into the heart of global finance, the question is not whether someone will blink, but when the shooting starts.
As one seasoned naval officer put it: "We're not just chasing ships. We're chasing an idea that money and violence are interchangeable. And that idea has a powerful backer."
