President Donald Trump was reportedly surprised during a recent intelligence briefing suggesting that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may be gay. According to sources familiar with the briefing, US intelligence officials told the president that the information had been assessed as credible by American spy agencies.
The claim has stirred attention partly because Mojtaba Khamenei’s father, Ali Khamenei, had reportedly questioned his son’s suitability to lead the Islamic Republic due to concerns about his personal life. Sources who spoke to US media outlets said Trump reacted with visible surprise during the briefing.
Three individuals familiar with the intelligence discussion told reporters that the allegation had been reviewed within the US intelligence community and was not dismissed as misinformation. According to two of the sources, the intelligence suggested Mojtaba Khamenei may have maintained a long-term relationship with a former tutor during his early years.
Another source said the alleged relationship involved a person who had once worked for the Khamenei family.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who is believed to have been injured in the same February 28 airstrike that killed his father and other family members, is reportedly recovering under medical supervision.
One source alleged that while receiving treatment, he made aggressive sexual advances toward male caregivers, possibly while under the influence of medication.
US intelligence agencies are said to lack photographic or direct visual evidence regarding the claim. However, one source insisted that the information came from “one of the most protected sources” available to the US government. Another official noted that the fact the intelligence was included in a high-level presidential briefing suggested some level of confidence in the information.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was selected as Iran’s new supreme leader on March 8 following the death of his father.
During his father’s later years in power, he was often described by observers as “the power behind the robes,” reflecting his influence as a key gatekeeper within the Iranian political and religious establishment.
Speculation about Mojtaba’s personal life reportedly circulated within Iran as early as May 2024 after a helicopter crash that killed former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who had been widely considered a leading candidate to eventually succeed Ali Khamenei.
Within US government circles, the alleged information about Mojtaba’s personal life has reportedly been tightly guarded. One insider described it as “a closely held piece of intelligence.”
President Trump has previously criticised Mojtaba Khamenei as an “unacceptable” choice to lead Iran, describing him as a political lightweight. Analysts believe the new supreme leader is unlikely to soften Tehran’s stance on key strategic programs, including Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile development.
Some elements related to Mojtaba’s health and personal life have surfaced before in diplomatic records. A classified US diplomatic cable from 2008 later released by WikiLeaks reported that Mojtaba Khamenei had travelled to the United Kingdom for treatment related to impotence.
The document said he made several extended visits to London hospitals, including Wellington Hospital and Cromwell Hospital.
The diplomatic cable stated that Mojtaba married relatively late, around the age of 30, reportedly due to medical complications that were eventually treated. According to the file, his wife became pregnant following further treatment during a later visit to the United Kingdom.
Reports suggest that Mojtaba’s wife Zahra and their teenage son were among those killed in the February airstrike that also killed Ali Khamenei. The Iranian leader is believed to have two other surviving children.
The issue of sexual orientation carries significant political and legal sensitivity in Iran. Under Iranian law, homosexual acts are illegal and can carry severe penalties. While the country permits gender reassignment surgery, human rights groups have reported that some individuals face pressure to undergo such procedures due to strict laws governing homosexuality.
Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once controversially stated in 2007 that there were no homosexuals in Iran a claim widely criticized by international observers and rights groups.
For now, Mojtaba Khamenei’s current location and the status of his recovery from the February 28 airstrike remain unclear. Iranian authorities have provided little public information about his health or movements since assuming leadership of the country.
