Trump Says Iran’s New Supreme Leader “May be Gay”

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump told Fox News that the CIA informed him Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, “may be gay,” adding that it gives the cleric “a bad start.”

The comment comes amid ongoing US-Israeli efforts to change Iran’s leadership, in a country where homosexual conduct is illegal under Islamic law. Trump has previously insulted Mojtaba Khamenei, labeling him a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” leader. Critics note that such remarks tend to strengthen Iranian public support for their government.

This latest remark follows continued US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which began with the assassination of Mojtaba Khamenei’s father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, late last month. Despite repeated calls from US and Israeli officials for regime change, Tehran’s government has remained intact.

According to reports, the Trump administration adopted an Israeli plan to instigate a coup in Iran shortly after the start of the conflict. Despite doubts from US intelligence agencies, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly hoped that removing Iran’s leadership would trigger a popular uprising.

The plan ultimately failed, and Mojtaba Khamenei was swiftly appointed as the new supreme leader, though he has largely remained out of public view since being injured in the strike that killed his father.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the idea that eliminating top officials could topple the government, stating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions. The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure.”

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