Allegations of Property Acquisition
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly purchased two apartments in London for a total of £35 million, according to a report by The Telegraph on Monday. The properties are notably located next to the Israeli embassy.
Role of Ali Ansari
These acquisitions were allegedly made with the assistance of Ali Ansari, a 57-year-old Iranian banker linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Ansari reportedly bought the apartments on Khamenei's behalf between 2014 and 2016.
In October 2025, Ansari was sanctioned by the British government for his alleged role in financing the IRGC. These sanctions included asset freezes and a travel ban to the UK.
At the time of the sanctions, Hamish Falconer, the UK's minister for the Middle East, made a strong statement:
"Today we are announcing sanctions against corrupt Iranian banker and businessman, Ali Aliakbar Ansari, for his role in financially supporting the activities of the IRGC."
Falconer added that the designation sends a clear message against threats from the IRGC. Bloomberg also reported that Ansari was "vital" to these property deals. Together, the two apartments are currently valued at approximately £50 million.
Denials
Roger Gherson, Ansari’s lawyer, has vehemently denied the allegations against his client. In a statement, Gherson asserted:
"Mr. Ansari, in response to damaging allegations in the international media, vehemently denies any financial relationship with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the new supreme leader."
Context of Khamenei's Succession
The report of the property purchases followed Mojtaba Khamenei's election as Iran's new supreme leader on Sunday. This succession from father to son has been highlighted by observers as a significant development. It contrasts sharply with the regime's historical presentation of a republican system alongside theocratic rule.
Dr. Tamar Eilam Gindin of the Ezri Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Research at the University of Haifa stated that this succession violates the core tenets upon which the Islamic Republic was founded.