ONE of the new Ayatollah’s stooges is set to build ultra luxury flats in London despite being slapped with sanctions for being “corrupt”.
MPs have slammed the “toothless” government for still not cracking down on some four weeks since the US launched strikes in the Middle East.
‘Billionaire’s Row’, The Bishops Avenue in London, where at least a dozen properties are connected to the Iranian regimeCredit: Dan Charity
A design view of the 33 ‘high-end residential apartments’ which are under constrcution and belonging to Ali AnsariCredit: Barnet Council
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was elevated to lead the Iranian regime after his father was killed on February 28Credit: X / Rahbarenghelab
Twisted supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is understood to be .
And this includes dilapidated mansions in an ultra-exclusive neighbourhood in London known as “Billionaire’s Row”.
Iranian banker Ali Ansari – sanctioned by the UK in October for corruption – is believed to own the properties on behalf of the Ayatollah.
One of his assets on has seen an application to transform the plot into 33 flats approved.
The exclusive street in North London is lined with 66 mega-mansions worth around £9million each – and at least 12 of them are thought to be owned by .
As part of his latest planning project being approved, Barnet Council accepted a payment of £1million pounds so he didn’t have to provide “affordable housing”.
MPs have called on the government to take action, and accused the council of accepting a “dirty cash” payment from Ansari.
Documents seen by The Sun show Ansari’s Isle of Man company, Birch Ventures Limited, had permission granted in April 2024 to develop bulldozed site in the ultra-exclusive enclave.
The 33 “high-end residential apartments” were to be “designed in a neoclassical Georgian style”.
The planning statement added the development would be “harmonizing within their surroundings”.
And in June last year, months before Ansari was sanctioned, his team were even able to argue that he should not have to provide any affordable housing – despite council and government targets.
Ultimately Barnet Council instead accepted a cash payment, of around £1million, and approved the proposal.
The council told The Sun they had no knowledge of the development’s Iranian connections when they approved the plans and accepted the cash.
Left in ruins on Billionaire's Row
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WHEN The Sun visited the plot earmarked for development into swanky flats – the site was nothing but a desolate patch of land.
A far cry from the “high end” 33 properties Ansari intends to build.
The perfect spot for hooded youths to get a thrill of trespassing – an exploitation which has been documented widely by “urban explorers” over the years at a number of properties on the road.
Beyond the view from the road there is a building site – the 33 flats – which appears to have been postponed.
The site encompasses The Georgians, Redcroft and Ilkley House, where mansions once stood proud.
The government are sitting idle while this void of land – in the heart of what was once one of the most desirable places to live – to sits empty amid calls for a Russia-style asset siezures of Iran property.
It is estimated up to £200million worth of regime-linked assets are sitting under their noses in the heart of London.
Builders further up the street, working on a plush development to 54 The Bishops Avenue, say speculation is rife among staff.
“Nobody has a clue what is going on there, behind those gates with warnings of security dogs,” one man said.
“Everyone knows the Iranian man owns it, but even before he was sanctioned he has let his properties fall into disrepair, everyone knows.
“Plenty of work for us builders if the government pulls their finger out.”
MP called on the council to reverse their decision – and blasted the government’s sanctions as “pathetically weak”.
He said: “The government’s sanctions are without teeth. Barnet Council would not be able to have done this if the government had a backbone and acted.
“Barnet Council should reverse the approval, it is dodgy, and they have accepted a dirty cash payment from the applicant too.”
He warns the flow ofIranian-linked money in Britain poses a national security threat.
“The council should not be doing any with anybody or anything with connections,” the MP said.
“But ultimately I think the government is to blame for their weak stance on this mess.
“It is a mockery that Iran is still pursuing projects in the country while under sanction; the government should seize the assets and clamp down hard.
“They are the enemy and a security risk.”
The planning statement said the development would be ‘harmonizing within their surroundings’Credit: Barnet Council
The property ‘The Georgians’ believed to be owned by the AyatollahCredit: Dan Charity
Ali Ansari was sanctioned by the government in OctoberCredit: Alamy
MP Sir Andrew Mitchell echoed his concerns to our reporter and asked for intervention.
He said: “Any whiff of Iranian money must be investigated by the police immediately.
“I’m appalled that this is even a matter for discussion.”
But Barnet Council claim that when they approved the planning proposal they were “not aware of any associations with the Iranian regime”.
Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet Council said: “It is extremely concerning that an individual, currently sanctioned by the UK Government, might be able to engage in, or benefit from, development in this country, and we are actively looking into what action might be taken.
“It is important to make clear, that at the time of the planning decision, the council was not aware of any associations with the Iranian regime, and the individual was not on the sanctions list at the time.
“I do believe that this issue, and any ownership of property by the Iranian regime, is something the Government should look into, and we will work with Government on any actions that need to be taken.
“In terms of the cash payment, independent viability experts confirmed the scheme could not support on-site affordable housing.
“In accordance with planning policy, the Council secured a £1 million payment in lieu of delivering affordable homes on-site through a legal agreement, plus a review mechanism to capture any future uplift for affordable housing provision the site might provide in future.”
The Sun has approached Ansari’s lawyer, Roger Gherson, and the for comment.
At least 12 of the mansions on Bishops Avenue are thought to be owned by IranCredit: Barnet Council
A view of a residential building damaged by a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, IranCredit: Reuters
Fire breaks out at the Shahran oil depot after US and Israeli attacksCredit: Getty
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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