Iran Supreme Leader Granted New X Premium Account Amid Sanctions

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has subscribed to X Premium through his official English-language account. This move is noteworthy given that Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has policies prohibiting dealings with individuals subject to U.S. sanctions.

The development follows the removal of the blue verification checkmark from Khamenei’s Farsi-language account. This action was prompted after the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) highlighted the verified status of the profile in March, drawing attention to potential sanctions violations.

Khamenei’s English-language X profile currently boasts approximately 175,000 followers, surpassing his Farsi account. This platform has been utilized to disseminate posts concerning the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. According to the profile details, the account is based in Iran and was established in March.

The scrutiny surrounding Khamenei’s X profiles stems from his inclusion on the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list since 2019. This designation restricts U.S. persons and entities from engaging in transactions or dealings with him.

Mojtaba Khamenei ascended to leadership in Iran following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a U.S. strike on February 28th. This event occurred amidst escalating tensions and conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel.

On X, blue checkmarks are exclusively available to subscribers of X Premium or Premium+ tiers. These paid subscriptions offer enhanced features, including the ability to publish longer posts, upload extended video content, and participate in ad revenue sharing.

X’s official policies explicitly state: “You may not purchase X Premium if you are a person with whom X is not permitted to have dealings under U.S. and any other applicable economic sanctions and trade compliance law.” The precise mechanisms by which X enforces this policy remain unclear, raising questions about the platform’s compliance protocols.

Historically, X has also provided complimentary grey checkmarks to government officials, a feature previously utilized for accounts associated with the elder Khamenei.

However, a report released by TTP on February 12th revealed that X accounts belonging to Iranian officials, government agencies, and state-run media outlets were displaying blue checkmarks, indicating their status as paying customers of X’s Premium service. This practice has fueled concerns about potential circumvention of sanctions.

“Because X requires a paid subscription to get premium service, it has likely received revenue from these Iranian individuals and groups — a potential violation of U.S. economic sanctions,” the TTP report asserted. This suggests a direct financial flow from sanctioned entities to X, a critical point for regulatory bodies.

The implications of X’s engagement with sanctioned entities extend beyond simple verification. For X, a platform heavily reliant on advertising revenue and user growth, navigating the complex landscape of international sanctions while maintaining its business operations presents a significant challenge. The company’s approach could set precedents for how social media platforms engage with politically sensitive and sanctioned regimes in the future. From a technology and business perspective, X’s compliance framework is under intense scrutiny. The ability to effectively monitor and enforce its own policies, particularly in the face of entities actively seeking to leverage its services, will be a key determinant of its long-term stability and regulatory standing.

X, owned by Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX, and the artificial intelligence firm xAI, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s blue checkmark on the social network.

The U.S. Treasury Department, responsible for enforcing sanctions against Iran, also did not immediately respond to inquiries.