Trump reportedly laughs over intel that Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei may be gay

On Monday, the American right-leaning newspaper reported that U.S. intelligence officials recently informed Trump that Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month, may be gay. 

According to the New York Post, sources familiar with the briefing said the president laughed aloud when hearing the claim, while others in the room reportedly reacted with amusement as well.

Three sources cited by the newspaper said the allegation is viewed within parts of the U.S. intelligence community as credible rather than a disinformation attempt aimed at undermining the Iranian leader. 

Khamenei became Iran’s Supreme Leader on 8 March after the death of his father, who had ruled the country since 1989. Prior to assuming the role, Mojtaba Khamenei was widely described by analysts as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure within Iran’s political establishment.

Is homosexuality allowed in Iran?

Any discussion of sexual orientation carries particular sensitivity in Iran, where same-sex relations are illegal. Under Iran’s penal code, based largely on Islamic law, same-sex sexual activity between men or women can carry severe penalties, including the death sentence.

Human rights organisations say these laws continue to be enforced. According to the Human Dignity Trust, LGBT people in Iran face arrest, discrimination and violence, with cases of executions for same-sex relations reported in recent years.

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad famously claimed in 2007 that the country did not have homosexuals, a statement widely criticised internationally.

Where does Trump stand on homosexuality?

Trump’s reaction to the intelligence briefing also comes against the backdrop of his record on LGBT policy in the United States.

During his presidency and political campaigns, Trump has supported measures restricting gender-affirming care for minors and has proposed defining gender in federal law strictly as male or female.

His administration also introduced policies that rolled back several Obama-era protections for LGBT people. In 2017, the administration announced a ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the U.S. military, a policy later implemented by the Department of Defence.

Advocacy groups also criticised the administration for removing references to LGBT rights and information from several federal government websites shortly after Trump took office in 2017.

Trump has also opposed the Equality Act, legislation designed to expand federal civil rights protections to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity.