‘Man Must Understand Woman’s Needs’: Khamenei’s Old Tweets Go Viral Amid Israel-Iran Conflict | World News

Last Updated:June 21, 2025, 09:07 IST

While Tehran trades fire with Tel Aviv, X users have dug up Ayatollah Khamenei’s surprisingly woke digital past.

As the war of words and weapons escalates between Israel and Iran, social media users have dug up an unexpected blast from the past: old liberal, even feminist-sounding tweets by none other than Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Yes, the same Khamenei who recently warned the United States of “irreparable consequences” if it joined the conflict.

In posts dating back over a decade, Khamenei can be seen speaking up for women’s rights, showing love for poetry, empathising with the Black Lives Matter movement, and even admitting to being a “naughty and playful” school kid.

One tweet reads: “Man has a responsibility to understand #woman’s needs and feelings and must not be neglectful toward her #emotional state.”

Another gem: “I went 2school w/a cloak since1st days; it was uncomfortable 2wear it in front f other kids, but I tried 2make up 4it by being naughty&playful.”

In a post that had Indian users doing a double take, he wrote about reading Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru to understand India’s pre-colonial legacy: “Before studying ‘Glimpses of World History’ by Mr. #Nehru I didn’t know #India before colonization had undergone so many important #advances.”

Cue the memes.

X (formerly Twitter) erupted with reactions. One user wrote: “I apologise, Ayatollah Khamenei, I was unfamiliar with your game.”

Another chimed in: “Born to be a lover, forced to be the supreme leader.”

Who Is Khamenei?

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, the country’s highest political and religious authority. A Shia cleric and former president, he succeeded Ayatollah Khomeini and has since held sweeping control over everything from Iran’s nuclear policy and military to media censorship and women’s rights. While often seen delivering fiery speeches on resistance and anti-Western unity, these resurfaced posts offer a rare glimpse into a more introspective, even poetic, persona.

Israel-Iran War

The resurfacing of these tweets comes as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its ninth day, with both countries locked in the most direct military confrontation in their history. The conflict began on June 13, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, followed by Iranian missile barrages on Israeli territory. According to the Iranian Health Ministry, approximately 400 people have been killed and around 3,000 injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes so far.

But online, users seem momentarily distracted by the Supreme Leader’s younger, softer, and surprisingly self-aware, digital trail.

Whether these posts were a genuine glimpse into the man behind the robe or a savvy soft-power campaign by Team Khamenei, one thing’s clear — the internet never forgets.

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More

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