𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

An Iranian banker sanctioned by the UK over links to the despotic Islamic Republic has been allowed to keep his property empire in one of London’s richest neighbourhoods. But the mansions may be linked to Mojtaba Khamenei, the second-eldest son of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – and now seen as the favourite to take over the government of Iran, after his father was killed in Israeli and US airstrikes.

Conservatives are demanding an urgent investigation into fears that the UK has become a haven for people linked to the Iranian government to hide their wealth, as Britain’s allies continue their war against the Islamic Republic. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “The UK has turned a blind eye to the fact that senior figures in the despotic Iranian regime have been parking their wealth and assets in London while brutally repressing their own people, sponsoring terrorism and attacking our allies.

“I have called on the Government to follow the regime’s finances, including their assets, and ensure all sanctions are enforced.

“This requires action today, and anyone associated with this malign regime must be investigated. We must use every lever to take action against them and their crimes.

“Britain cannot be a bolthole for the financial interests of Tehran’s ruling elite. The UK also cannot be a sanctuary for enforcers of repression if those linked to the regime seek to flee Iran.”

Mansions in The Bishops Avenue, known as “Billionaire’s Row”, were purchased for £73million by a firm owned by banker Ali Ansari, who the UK Government accuses of activities “intended to cause the destabilisation of the United Kingdom”. He denies the claims.

Mr Ansari is alleged to be a front for Mojtaba Khamenei, according to an investigation by the Bloomberg news agency. Mr Ansari denies any financial relationship between the pair.

Properties in the plush street in Finchley, north London, were obtained by a business called Birch Ventures Ltd in 2013 for £73million.

The company, registered in the Isle of Man, lists Ali Ansari as its sole “beneficial owner”. The banker also bought a property in his own name called Jersey House for £33.7 million in 2014.

Ansari was sanctioned by the UK Government in October 2025, when he was banned from travelling to Britain, and his assets were frozen.

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said the action was taken because of Ansari’s role financially supporting the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which report directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The IRGC took part in a crackdown on recent protests that led to an estimated 30,000 civilian deaths.

According to the UK Governmnent, Ansari “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.”

Ansari is reported to have links to Mojtaba Khamenei. Bloomberg claimed that “ultimate ownership” traces of the Bishops Avenue properties traces back to the former Ayatollah’s son, through a series of shell companies.

Despite this, and the raging war in the Gulf that saw Iran’s proxy Hezbollah launch a drone attack on a UK base in Cyprus, Birch Ventures Ltd is still listed as the owner of the properties.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is thought to be just as hardline as his father, and to oppose improving relations with western countries. A new supreme leader for Iran will chosen by the 88-strong “Assembly of Experts” and Khamenei is thought to be the favourite – although President Donald Trump has dismissed him as a “lightweight” and suggested that the US should have a say.

Mr Ansari’s lawyer, Roger Gherson, said: “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 son of the former supreme leader.

“It is his intention to challenge the UK Government’s decision to impose sanctions.

“In these circumstances, where litigation is anticipated, he has no further comment, although he would ask the media not to repeat these unfounded allegations.”

Some of the mansions on The Bishops Avenue fell into ruin and students calling themselves “urban explorers” entered the dilapidated properties, posting videos to TikTok. At least three, called The Georgians, Redcroft and Ilkley House, have since been demolished but records held by the UK Registry Office show Birch Ventures Ltd continues to own the land, which is ripe for future redevelopment.

A Reform UK spokesman said: “For such a high-ranking Iranian official to have amassed such a significant portfolio in our capital represents a massive security failure by successive Labour and Conservative governments.

“Any UK assets connected to this vile regime must be seized immediately. Britain must not become a haven for dirty money.”

The UK has also sanctioned the IRGC and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced sanctions in February on ten Iranians, including IRGC members, politicians and police chiefs.

However it has not followed the US, EU, Australia and Canada in classifying the IRGC as a terror group.

The Government says it keeps the list of proscribed organisations “under close review” but says it “will not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being considered for proscription”.

The Middle East has been in turmoil after Hamas, a Gaza-based terror group sponsored by Iran, launched a murderous attack on Israeli civilians on October 7 2023. It sparked a wave of Israeli retaliation against Hamas, killing an estimated 70,000 Palestinians according to a statement by an Israeli official in January, and against Iran’s other proxy militias in Lebanon and Syria.