A prominent Iranian businessman, currently under British sanctions for allegedly funding Tehran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been linked to a high-end villa in the Spanish coastal resort of Marbella. Records indicate the property is held through a Spanish subsidiary of a United Kingdom-registered entity.
The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Ali Ansari last year, accusing him of providing financial support to the IRGC, a military force accused of widespread human rights abuses while upholding Iran’s theocratic regime. Ansari’s legal representative, Roger Gherson, refrained from commenting on the Marbella villa but firmly rejected the allegations regarding ties to the IRGC, stating that his client “vehemently denies any financial relationship” with the organization.
British authorities have not released specific evidence to support their claim that Ansari funded the IRGC. In a public statement made earlier this month, Ansari pointed to the recent dissolution of a bank in which he held shares, arguing this proves the accusations against him are baseless. He described the sanctions as part of a broader effort to target him without credible proof, amid escalating geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States. Ansari added that he has instructed legal counsel to challenge the British restrictions.
Investigators discovered the Marbella villa is not under Ansari’s name directly. A review of corporate records reveals a complex ownership structure. Ansari, using a Cypriot passport, controls the London-based firm Veritas Reales Investment Limited, according to the UK’s corporate registry. This London firm, in turn, owns the Spanish subsidiary Veritas Reales Marbella SL, which holds the deed to the villa and land in the exclusive gated community of Altos Reales.
The property was acquired in 2020 for an undisclosed price. Historical real estate listings from 2013 described the six-bedroom residence as an “Outstanding Residence with Spectacular Views,” featuring a central tower, an outdoor pool, Mediterranean vistas, and amenities such as temperature-controlled wine cellars. The listing price at that time was 15 million euros.
Meanwhile, the U.K.’s Companies House indicates that Veritas Reales Investment Limited’s annual filings are overdue, placing the firm at risk of forced dissolution within the next two months. This discovery adds a significant European property to Ansari’s known portfolio, which British authorities have already partially frozen, reportedly including assets worth over 100 million pounds.