Two prominent London estate agencies are marketing properties linked to Iran’s supreme leader. The two homes originally changed hands for almost £36m.
Sotheby’s and Knight Frank are handling the sale of one of the luxury properties.
Iranian businessman Ali Ansari owns the homes. Reports have described him as a “key financier” for Mojtaba Khamenei.
The UK and US have imposed sanctions on Ansari for allegedly bankrolling Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Ansari lives in Dubai. The sanctions prevent him from travelling to Britain and freeze his UK assets.
Land Registry documents show that Ansari acquired the two properties for almost £36m in 2014 and 2016. They sit near the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Government has allowed the properties to go on the market after Ansari defaulted on the mortgages, The Sunday Times reported.
However, the Government is expected to freeze any remaining proceeds while the sanctions continue.
Ansari reportedly owns a London property portfolio worth more than £140m. He paid £19m for one of the Kensington properties in 2016.
Sotheby’s and Knight Frank are now marketing the five-bedroom penthouse for £12m.
The 3,944 sq ft property occupies the sixth and seventh floors of 3a Palace Green. It includes private staff accommodation and a large roof terrace overlooking Kensington Palace.
Knight Frank refers to the receivership in a note accompanying the listing.
It states: “Due to the property being in receivership, we do not have all of the material information for the property; therefore you should ensure you make all relevant enquiries.”
Ansari bought the second property for £16.75m in 2014.
Its current asking price remains unknown. However, Land Registry documents name international financial advisory firm Teneo as the receiver.
The building also sits on the same street as the Israeli embassy in London.
The UK Government imposed sanctions on Ansari in October 2025. Ministers cited his alleged role in financially enabling the IRGC’s activities.
Strikes that killed Mojtaba Khamenei’s father and other family members also injured Khamenei. Questions remain over his health, and he has not appeared in public since.
