The White House is drawing attention to a surprising intelligence report about Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, after communications officials highlighted the claim on social media.
According to reporting cited by administration allies, U.S. intelligence agencies believe Khamenei may be gay — an allegation that reportedly sparked laughter during a briefing with President Donald Trump.
Sources familiar with the meeting told reporters that Trump reacted with visible amusement when the intelligence was presented, with one official saying the president “laughed aloud” after hearing the claim.
Others in the room reportedly found the moment equally humorous, and one senior intelligence official was said to have joked about the revelation for days afterward.
Steven Cheung, assistant to the president and White House director of communications, amplified the story online, writing on X, “Some interesting reporting coming out of Tehran these days.”
The allegation carries an unusual layer of irony given Iran’s strict laws surrounding homosexuality.
Under the Islamic Republic’s interpretation of Sharia law, same-sex relationships are criminalized and can carry severe penalties, including the death penalty in some cases.
Human rights organizations have long documented Iran’s harsh treatment of LGBT individuals, including public executions tied to charges involving homosexual conduct.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, recently took control of Iran’s theocratic regime after his father, longtime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed during a joint U.S.-Israeli strike carried out as part of Operation Epic Fury.
Before assuming the position, Mojtaba had been viewed as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure within the Iranian government.
He was often described by political observers as the “power behind the robes,” wielding influence within the regime despite not holding the country’s highest office.
According to the intelligence cited in the report, Mojtaba Khamenei may have maintained a long-term relationship with a male tutor from his childhood.
Another source familiar with the intelligence suggested there may also have been a relationship with someone who previously worked for the Khamenei family.
One source also claimed that while recovering from injuries sustained during the February airstrikes, Khamenei allegedly made aggressive advances toward male caregivers treating him.
Those incidents were reportedly attributed in part to the heavy medication he was receiving during recovery.
Officials reportedly do not possess photographic proof of the alleged relationships.
However, sources said the intelligence came from highly protected sources and was considered credible enough to be presented at the highest levels of government.
Speculation about Mojtaba’s personal life has reportedly circulated within Iranian political circles for years.
Some insiders claim the rumors intensified after the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024, when attention turned to who might eventually succeed the elder Khamenei.
The White House has not issued a formal statement confirming the intelligence assessment.
Still, the administration’s willingness to publicly amplify the reporting suggests officials are not backing away from the controversy surrounding Iran’s new leader.
The post White House Amplifies Claim Iran’s ‘Nepo Leader’ Is Gay — Trump’s Priceless Reaction appeared first on Real News Now.
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