Reports cited by US media indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei's sexual orientation could erode his support within the elite of the Islamic regime.
A 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks mentioned that Mojtaba Khamenei had been
treated in the United Kingdom for impotence problems.The document indicated that the Iranian leader married relatively late, around the age of 30, and that his wife managed to become pregnant after several medical treatments carried out abroad.
This background was once again cited in recent reports about his personal life.
U.S. intelligence agencies handle information that Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is homosexual, a fact that could weaken his support within the structures of the Islamic regime.
The information was released by the New York Post, which cited sources linked to US intelligence who have analyzed reports about the private life of the successor of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to these sources, the issue could become a sensitive factor within the political and religious apparatus of the Islamic Republic.
According to the American media, President Donald Trump was informed about these reports during an intelligence briefing
.The sources cited indicated that the president would have laughed out loud when he heard the content of the report, surprised by the implications it could have for the stability of the Iranian regime.
The assessment is part of Washington's analysis of Tehran's power structure after the death of the previous supreme leader.
The same sources pointed out that Mojtaba Khamenei had a prolonged relationship with a guardian
from his childhood.According to information cited by the New York Post, this link would have been known in certain circles within the Iranian regime.
In a profoundly conservative and religious political system such as that of Iran, such revelations could generate strong tensions within the clerical elite.
The American media outlet CBS News had also previously referred to “problems” in Mojtaba Khamenei's personal life
.According to these versions, these issues would have influenced internal debates within the regime regarding its succession within the political and religious leadership of Iran.
The possible political relevance of these revelations is explained by the
current legal framework in Iran.In the Islamic Republic, homosexuality is prohibited and can be punished with extremely severe penalties, including the death penalty under the regime's legislation.
At the same time, the Iranian government allows sex change surgeries, which in some cases have been used by homosexuals under social or legal pressure.
Analysts believe that this information could generate tensions within the religious and military elites that support the Iranian regime
.At a time when the country is facing open conflicts with the United States and Israel and strong international pressure, any questioning of the legitimacy of leadership could have internal political consequences.
