US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the CIA has told him Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alleged gay.
The US President said he was briefed by intelligence officials on the claim, which centres on the son of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Asked in an interview with Fox News whether the CIA had made the assessment, Trump replied: ‘They did say that, but I don’t know if it was only them.
‘I think a lot of people are saying that, which puts [Khamenei] off to a bad start in that particular country.’
Trump has previously branded Khamenei a ‘lightweight’ and an ‘unacceptable’ choice to lead Iran – a view that underlines his dismissive stance towards the cleric.
Reports in the New York Post earlier this month claimed US intelligence believed Khamenei had been in a long-term relationship with a male childhood tutor.
Trump also used the interview to criticise Western supporters of Palestine, taking aim at feminist and LGBTQ+ activists.
‘I sort of have to smile to myself when I see people trying to defend the Palestinian regime for women,’ he said.
‘When I look at “Gays for Palestine”… they kill gays. And I’m saying, who are the “Gays for Palestine”?’
US intelligence agencies do not have photographic evidence to support claims about Khamenei’s alleged sexuality, but sources insist the information is considered credible at the highest levels.
One source told the New York Post the tip was ‘derived from one of the most protected sources that the government has’, while another said its elevation to senior officials suggested ‘there’s some confidence in this’.
The claims were also alluded to a report by CBS News, which said Khamenei’s late father had concerns about unspecified ‘issues’ in his son’s ‘personal life’ when considering a successor.
According to one source, suspicions about Khamenei’s sexuality had circulated within senior circles and were used by some to try to block his rise to power.
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, where same-sex relationships can carry severe punishments.
