New Iranian Supreme Leader linked to flats near Israeli Embassy and mansions in Hampstead
£200m property portfolio in name of a front man who has now been sanctioned by UK government
Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly owns luxury properties near the Israeli embassy in Kensington and additional homes in Hampstead, north London.
These assets are held through a shell company managed by a close associate who has been sanctioned by the UK government.
According to an investigation by Bloomberg, two apartments linked to Khamenei via intermediaries are situated directly in line of sight of the Israeli embassy.
Both properties are located on the sixth and seventh floors of a building on Palace Green in Kensington.
Ownership is obscured through a trusted frontman, Ali Ansari, an Iranian oligarch and close family friend. He has denied the link through his lawyer.
Ansari, a 57-year-old businessman and construction magnate, is alleged to act as a “financial conduit” for Khamenei.
Despite the supreme leader’s reported control, his name does not appear on official ownership documents.
In addition to the Kensington apartments, eleven other properties on Bishops Avenue in Hampstead—often referred to as “Billionaire’s Row”—are believed to be held under the same ownership structure. Altogether, the portfolio is estimated to be worth around £200 million.
The two Kensington flats, purchased in 2014 and 2016 for £16.7 million and £19 million respectively, are among the most prominent assets.
Ansari is also believed to have purchased the Hampstead properties on Khamenei’s behalf in 2013, for a then-total value of £73 million.
The Hampstead properties were bought through a shell company called Birch Ventures Limited, registered in the Isle of Man, whose beneficial owner is Ansari, according to Land Registry and company documents.
All 13 properties – including the Kensington ones – have had a charge laid on them by the Treasury since October last year, which blocks them from being sold.
Roger Macmillan, a counter-terrorism specialist and former director of security at the Iranian opposition channel Iran International, commented on the arrangement: “Two apartments, direct line of sight, held through Mojtaba Khamenei. That’s not a property portfolio – it’s a permanent surveillance platform. This is a serious security breach.”
The UK government sanctioned Ansari in October 2025 over alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has played a central role in suppressing Iranian protests in recent weeks.
The Treasury accused him of being a “corrupt banker” who financed the IRGC. Sanctions imposed include an asset freeze, director disqualification, and a travel ban.
Announcing the decision, the government stated: “Ansari has facilitated and provided support to hostile activity by the Government of Iran, namely providing economic resources to the IRGC and individuals who have undertaken activity which is intended to cause the destabilisation of the United Kingdom or any other country.”
Roger Gherson, a lawyer representing Ansari, said: “Mr Ansari vehemently denies any financial relationship with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the son of the former supreme leader. It is his intention to challenge the UK government’s decision to impose sanctions.”
In a seperate development, last Friday four Iranian and British-Iranian men were arrested in London early on Friday under suspicion of surveilling “locations and individuals” linked to London’s Jewish community.
Jewish News understands the arrests followed a tip-off to the Metropolitan Police by a member of the community.
The Metropolitan Police said the suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, have been taken into custody on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
The force said the men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested at addresses in Harrow, Watford and Barnet shortly after 1am last Friday.
Detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing London h secured warrants of further detention for four men arrested under the National Security Act up until until Friday, 13 March.
They confirmed six other men have been bailed pending further investigation. These are aged 29, 39, 42, 49 and two aged 20, and were arrested at the same location in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender.
One of the men was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
