Iran, the war and the sanctions: 366 square meters, five bedrooms, a dubious banker

Kensington Palace and the streets around it, at the western end of London's Hyde Park, are a noble address. For those who actually belong to the nobility, or who would like to be nobility and have the necessary change for the nice appearance. Heir to the throne Prince William and Princess Kate have their official addresses here, as do Prince Edward and other royals. For example, the Sultan of Brunei, Princess Haya of Jordan or the Indian Steel King (not real nobility) Lakshmi Mittal.

According to the Sunday Times, one of the other illustrious property owners there is Modshtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since March 2026. He owns two luxurious penthouses there. They were bought in 2014 and 2016 for the equivalent of just under 42 million euros. According to the British newspaper, the two apartments - including quarters for servants - at 3a Palace Green are now for sale. To make the level of real estate clear again: An apartment has 366 square meters, five bedrooms and a reception room.

It is being offered by the real estate dealer Knight Frank. The advert states that interested buyers should do some research on the property themselves. The apartments would be sold for a credit institution. After failing to make mortgage payments, the British government ordered the sale, according to the Sunday Times.

The Iranian Ali Ansari is said to be listed in the land register for the apartments. Ansari is said to have managed the financial interests of Khamenei and other people closely linked to the Iran regime - a straw man, they say.

The Ansari family also ran the Ayandeh Bank. In 2025, its license was revoked and it merged with the Iranian state-owned bank Melli. The bank was hit by generous interest rates for its clients, according to reports.

Dubai-based banker Ansari was placed on the US sanctioned list by the United States in July this year. According to US authorities, he misused millions of dollars in funds from the Iranian people. Great Britain also sanctioned Ansari almost a year ago as a financier of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. He is no longer allowed to enter the country; his property was frozen.

In addition to the two apartments at Kensington Palace, Ansari is said to own other houses in London worth a total of 165 million euros. According to US authorities, he is also said to own properties in Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, Cyprus and the Arab Emirates.

If the two luxury apartments are successfully sold, the lenders will be served first. What's left will probably be frozen - like Ansari's remaining assets.