Two luxury London apartments believed to be owned by Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei have been put up for sale. According to The Sunday Times, the properties were purchased in 2014 and 2016 for a combined £36 million (approximately ₹459.54 crore) and are located at 3a Palace Green. The first penthouse, a five-bedroom duplex spanning 3,944 square feet across the sixth and seventh floors, is being offered for under £12 million (around ₹153.17 crore). The second apartment, bought for £16.75 million in 2014 and occupying the seventh and eighth floors, does not have a public listing, so its sale price remains unknown.
The apartments' location presents significant political implications, as reported by The Daily Mail. The property is described as being less than 50 meters away from the Israeli Embassy, with the outlet quoting a terrorism and security specialist who noted that 'Iran owns the view into the back of the Israeli Embassy' from this proximity. Both properties feature staff accommodation and private roof terraces, with Knight Frank and Sotheby's International Realty appointed to jointly market the first penthouse as a luxury duplex with commanding views across Kensington Gardens.
Iranian banker Ali Ansari is the registered owner of both apartments, as reported by The Sunday Times. The US Treasury sanctioned him in July, describing him as a 'key financier' for Khamenei and stating he 'oversees a sprawling global network of assets benefiting Iran's leader'. The UK had previously imposed sanctions on Ansari, accusing him of providing financial support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with his assets frozen and entry to Britain prohibited. Ansari is understood to deny the allegations.
According to The Sunday Times, the British government is believed to have approved the sale after Ansari failed to meet his mortgage payments. Private lenders that had financed the purchases subsequently appointed receivers to recover outstanding funds, with the original borrowed amount not disclosed. Any money remaining after lenders recover their dues is expected to remain frozen for as long as Ansari remains subject to sanctions. Staff at the Palace Green development have not seen either Ansari or Khamenei since the apartments were acquired.
Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of the public eye since his father was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes in February, making no public appearances or statements since then, leaving uncertainty over his whereabouts and condition. The sales brochure makes no mention of the property's politically sensitive links, instead cautioning potential buyers about limited information availability due to the property being in receivership.
