In the affluent area of Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, North London, lies a collection of luxurious homes known as ‘billionaires row.’ Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old leader from Iran, reportedly owns 11 rundown properties in this prestigious neighborhood.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s father, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, tragically lost his life during coordinated airstrikes in Tehran earlier this year. Mojtaba himself was injured in the same attack, which also resulted in the deaths of his mother and wife.
As the second eldest son of the Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei is currently maintaining a low profile due to concerns about potential assassination attempts. Speculation suggests he may be facing health issues, especially after missing his own succession ceremony.
Reportedly, a company facilitated the acquisition of a £73 million ($97.7 million) portfolio of mansions on Bishops Avenue for the Iranian regime in 2013. Despite their deteriorated state, these properties are now estimated to be valued around £100 million ($133.6 million).
Local residents near the lavish properties mentioned that some mansions are priced at over £40 million ($53.6 million) each, with one selling for £12 million ($16 million) in the 1990s. Mojtaba Khamenei allegedly obtained these properties through businessman Ali Aliakbar Ansari, as per Bloomberg reports.
Ansari, who faces UK sanctions for allegedly financing activities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), acquired the mansions through Birch Ventures Limited, a company registered in the Isle of Man. These properties have since fallen into disrepair.
Despite the upscale reputation of Bishops Avenue, many properties are undergoing renovations, with some being converted into multiple residences or care facilities for the elderly. Witnesses report minimal activity at Mojtaba Khamenei’s properties, describing them as neglected and vacant.
Concerns have arisen regarding the fate of these properties, given Khamenei’s ownership and the potential financial gains he could make. London politician Joe Powell has urged the government to impose further sanctions on Iranian-linked networks in the UK to prevent illicit financial activities.
For now, the deserted mansions on Bishops Avenue remain an eyesore, adding to the growing number of abandoned properties across the UK.
