Israel-Iran War: Why does Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei use only one hand? The reason behind is…

India.com

24-06-2025

Israel-Iran War: Why does Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei use only one hand? The reason behind is…
Today, as the war in the Middle East continues and fears of a wider conflict grow, the world is not only watching the missiles but also remembering key figures like Khamenei whose past holds many stories of survival and power.
By Analiza Pathak Edited by Analiza Pathak
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The war between Israel and Iran has entered its 11th day, and now the United States has officially joined the conflict on Israel's side. Both Israel and Iran are firing missiles at each other, and the tension in the Middle East is only getting worse. Amid this ongoing war, the name of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is making headlines around the world. People are especially focused on one surprising detail about him, something that many have noticed in his public speeches and photos: he always uses only one hand. So, what's the reason behind this?
Why does Khamenei use only one hand? The story behind it
According to media reports, the story goes back to June 27, 1981, in Tehran, the capital of Iran. On that day, Ayatollah Khamenei was giving a speech at Abuzar Mosque. During the event, a young man placed a tape recorder near him.
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But it wasn't just a tape recorder, it had a hidden bomb inside.
As soon as the device was switched on, it exploded with a loud blast. Khamenei was badly injured and collapsed on the floor. There was chaos all around in the mosque.
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Since that bomb attack, Khamenei's right hand has been partially paralyzed, which is why he mostly uses only his left hand in public.
Today, as the war in the Middle East continues and fears of a wider conflict grow, the world is not only watching the missiles but also remembering key figures like Khamenei whose past holds many stories of survival and power.
Declared dead by doctors but Khamenei survived against all odds
Media reports reveal that Ayatollah Khamenei was critically injured in the 1981 bomb blast. The explosion left his right hand paralyzed, damaged parts of his lungs and ear nerves, and caused serious burns on one side of his chest. Pieces of the bomb also got lodged in the right side of his body.
By the time he was taken to the hospital, his condition had worsened so much that one doctor even declared him dead. But a team of other doctors didn't give up — they continued operating and saved his life.
His first question after the operation
After the surgery, Khamenei couldn't speak. But using his left hand, he wrote down a question: 'Did my companions at the mosque get hurt?'
He was told that everyone else was safe.
Then he asked: 'What has happened to me?' The doctors explained that his right hand might never work again.
To this, Khamenei calmly replied: 'If my brain and tongue still work, I don't need my hand.'
Since that day, Khamenei has done everything with his left hand. His right hand has remained permanently disabled, and he continues to carry that injury as a reminder of the attack — and his survival to this day.