Donald Trump has confirmed that the CIA has told him Iran's new Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, is gay, pointing out it would leave the Supreme Leader 'off to a bad start' in the hardline Islamic Republic.
The US President said he had been 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"?'
Donald Trump has claimed the CIA told him Iran's new ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei (pictured), is gay, joking it would leave him 'off to a bad start' in the hardline Islamic republic
The US President said he had been briefed by intelligence officials on the claim, which centres on the son of Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei
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.
While gender reassignment surgery is permitted, rights groups have long reported that some individuals are pressured into undergoing the procedure to avoid prosecution.
Same-sex acts can be punishable by death in the Islamic republic, which has faced international condemnation over past executions, including cases where men were publicly hanged.
Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad previously denied the existence of homosexuality in the country, telling an audience in 2007: 'In Iran, we don't have homosexuals.'
One source acknowledged the sensitivities around reporting on an individual's sexuality, but argued the situation was different given the nature of Iran's leadership.
Khamenei's current whereabouts, and the extent of any injuries following the February 28 airstrikes, remain unclear.
The new supreme leader is widely considered unlikely to bend to US demands to abandon Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes - a stance that has fuelled tensions with Washington.
Some details of Khamenei's personal life have emerged before, potentially lending weight to the latest claims.
A classified US diplomatic cable from 2008, later published by WikiLeaks, said he had been treated in the UK for impotence.
The file states Mojtaba married relatively late - around the age of 30 - due to the condition, which required several trips to London for treatment.
He is said to have visited Wellington and Cromwell hospitals on three occasions before the issue was resolved.
According to the cable, his family had expected him to have children quickly, but he required a further two-month stay in the UK before his wife became pregnant.
