What Is the Story of the Keffiyeh That the Leader of Iran Always Wears? / Examining 4 Perspectives on the Leader’s Use of the Keffiyeh

According to the Political Service of SaedNews Analytical News Website, the Leader of the Revolution first draped a keffiyeh over his shoulder during a historic speech in May 2000 (Ordibehesht 1379 Iranian calendar) at Tehran’s Musalla, and over the past 24 years, he has consistently worn a keffiyeh in both public and private meetings. There are various narratives explaining this action by the Leader of the Revolution…

According to Tabnak, the first reference to this action appears in the memoirs of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani in 2000 (1379). In the daily notes of the late Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council on September 10, 2000 (20 Shahrivar 1379), it is mentioned: 'Hossein Marashi said the reformists are worried about a possible confrontation with the Leader and preventing Mr. Khatami’s candidacy, and the Leader said in a meeting with intelligence managers that they would soon eliminate the root of the sedition, and for this reason, they drape the keffiyeh around their neck.'

Sardar Shirazi, the Head of the Leader’s Military Office, explained the reason for the Leader wearing the keffiyeh in an interview with Fars on June 6, 2010 (16 Khordad 1389): The Leader’s spirit is entirely a Basij (volunteer militia) spirit. If we want to understand the symbol of the Basij, we should look at him; at one point, he felt that he should present more of the Basij movement and concluded that the keffiyeh should be used as a spiritual symbol, which is highly effective.

The Head of the Leader’s Military Office added: Although he was dressed in clerical attire and his behavior and actions were clear to all, he also presented another symbol that has had and continues to have a profound spiritual impact both inside and outside the country.

In 2016 (1395 Iranian calendar), Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, then-commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking to Basij elites in Hamadan province, pointed out that the Leader draped his keffiyeh from the Musalla podium as a stand against the ideology of the reformists of 2nd Khordad, saying: This ideology seeks to stop the Islamic Revolution.

It is worth noting that His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei was among the few clerics who, after the start of the imposed war, wore military uniforms and, as the Imam’s representative in the Supreme Defense Council, were present at the war fronts.