London Penthouses Linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Put Up for Sale

Two luxury penthouses overlooking Kensington Palace are being offered for sale after entering receivership, bringing renewed attention to assets linked to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

The apartments at 3a Palace Green had a combined purchase value of about £36 million. One five-bedroom duplex, covering nearly 3,944 square feet across the sixth and seventh floors, was bought for £19 million in 2016. Knight Frank and Sotheby's International Realty are marketing it for just under £12 million. The second penthouse, purchased for £16.75 million in 2014, occupies the seventh and eighth floors and has no publicly listed asking price.

Land Registry documents reportedly name Iranian banker Ali Ansari as the registered owner of both properties. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Ansari in July, describing him as a key financier for Khamenei and alleging that he oversees a global asset network benefiting Iran's leadership. Britain had previously sanctioned him over allegations that he financed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegations he is understood to deny.

The properties reportedly entered receivership after Ansari defaulted on their mortgages. Private lenders appointed receivers to recover the outstanding funds, and the British government is believed to have authorized the sale. Any money left after the lenders are repaid is expected to remain frozen while Ansari remains under sanctions.

The Sunday Times reported that several potential buyers have already viewed the properties. It also said neither Khamenei nor Ansari has been seen by staff at the development since the apartments were acquired. The report comes as uncertainty continues over Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since his father was reportedly killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in February. His condition and whereabouts remain unclear.