Donald Trump has claimed the CIA told him Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei ‘is gay’ during a Fox News interview where he also discussed Iran’s treatment of LGBTQ people
US President Donald Trump has alleged that the nation’s foreign intelligence service informed him that Iran’s new leader “is gay.”
In an interview with Fox News, when asked if the CIA had told Mr Trump that Ayatollah Jr. is gay, Mr Trump responded: “They did say that… I think a lot of people are saying that – which puts him off to a bad start in that particular country.”
Mojtaba Khamenei was named Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by US and Israeli forces at the onset of the conflict in the Middle East. The US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on 28 February. In response, Iran has struck key targets throughout the Middle East, causing turmoil in the region.
Ayatollah Jr. was chosen to lead the country by senior clerics in a system where homosexuality is punishable by death.
According to Fair Planet, a global non-profit organisation focused on reporting on human rights and environmental justice: “Homosexuality is illegal in Iran and carries severe punishment under the country’s Islamic penal code.
“Consensual same-sex sexual activity is considered a crime, and those convicted can face imprisonment, flogging, and even the death penalty.
“The Iranian government has justified its stance on homosexuality by citing religious and cultural reasons, claiming that homosexuality is a sin and goes against Islamic values.”
Mr Trump said during the interview, while referring to the “Gays for Palestine” movement, “They kill gays. They kill them instantly. They throw them off buildings.”
He continued by saying that he actually polled “very well” with the LGBTQ community – even highlighting that the song he used for rallies, ‘YMCA’ by the Village People, is a ‘gay national anthem’.
“No Republican’s ever gotten the gay vote like I did and I’m very proud of it,” he said.
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