Iran's Supreme Leader's London Properties Listed for Sale Amidst Unconfirmed Demise

Two luxury London apartments, reportedly linked to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, have been put up for sale. The properties, located at Palace Green in Kensington, are officially registered to Iranian businessman and banker Ali Ansari, who is under U.S. and UK sanctions. The Sunday Times reported that one of the apartments, a 366-square-meter duplex with five bedrooms, was purchased in 2016 for £19 million and is now listed for just under £12 million. The second apartment, acquired in 2014 for £16.75 million, is also under creditor management but not yet publicly listed.

The apartments offer views of the Israeli embassy, situated less than 50 meters away, a detail previously noted by the press as a potential surveillance risk. The sale is being handled by Knight Frank and Sotheby's International Realty. Potential buyers are not informed of the alleged connection to Iranian leadership. The listing includes a disclaimer that the properties are managed by appointed receivers, meaning sellers may not have full information, and buyers should conduct their own due diligence.

Ali Ansari, described by the U.S. Treasury as a key financier for Khamenei, faces sanctions from both the U.S. and UK for allegedly funding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, accusations he denies. The British government reportedly permitted the sale after Ansari defaulted on mortgage payments. Any remaining funds after settling debts will be frozen due to his sanctions status.

Staff at the complex claim neither Khamenei nor Ansari have been seen since the apartments were purchased. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since February, following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, reportedly due to U.S.-Israeli strikes. His current condition and whereabouts are unknown, with reports from The Atlantic suggesting he is either dead or in a critical condition since early August.