X provided premium services to Iranian leaders amid U.S. sanctions: Report

X Removes Blue Check Marks from Iranian Officials

The social media platform X has reportedly removed blue check marks from numerous Iranian officials and state-controlled media outlets. This action came after questions arose about potential violations of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The Tech Transparency Project released a report on Thursday, revealing that more than two dozen accounts belonging to Iranian officials, government agencies, and state-run media had access to X's premium services.

"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 report stated. "X Premium accounts get access to a number of perks, including blue checkmarks and the ability to write longer posts, upload longer videos, and share in advertising revenue."

The findings were initially reported by Wired, which noted that X did not respond to a request for comment. However, several hours later, without explanation, X removed blue checks from four out of the five accounts the news outlet inquired about. Accounts that were not flagged by Wired retained their blue check marks.

Accounts Linked to Government Crackdowns

The Tech Transparency Project also highlighted that many of the accounts became verified in August 2025 or later. Some of these accounts have been linked to individuals involved in the recent violent crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran.

One such account is @ejei_org, which claims to belong to Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of Iran's judiciary. Ejei was previously placed under U.S. sanctions in September 2010 while serving as Iran's prosecutor general and minister of intelligence. He was accused of overseeing the arrests, beatings, and torture of protesters and political figures in the previous year.

In response to recent protests, Ejei posted on X on January 5, stating, "This time, we will show no mercy to the rioters..." Subsequent posts from Ejei and other Iranian officials continue even as the country faces a government-imposed internet blackout.

Another account mentioned in the report, which has since lost its blue check mark, belongs to Ali Larijani, a senior aide to Iran's supreme leader. Larijani's account, created in May 2021 and verified in September 2024, has over 130,000 followers. He was recently sanctioned for his role in the "brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters," according to the Treasury Department.

State Media Outlets Also Affected

In addition to Iranian officials, several state-run media outlets, including the Tasnim News Agency and Press TV, had verified accounts on X. The Tech Transparency Project criticized Elon Musk for publicly supporting Iranian protesters while allowing these verified accounts to spread government messages and propaganda about the protests.

"The fact that Elon Musk is not just platforming these individuals, but taking their money to boost their content through these premium subscriptions and give them extra features also means he's undermining the sanctions that the U.S. and the Trump administration are actually applying," said Katie Paul, director of the Tech Transparency Project, in an interview with Wired.

Impact on Sanctions and Platform Policies

The removal of blue check marks from these accounts raises questions about X's compliance with U.S. sanctions and its policies regarding high-profile users. The report suggests that X may have inadvertently facilitated the spread of government messaging by allowing these accounts to access premium features.

As the situation continues to unfold, the actions taken by X and the implications for U.S. sanctions remain under scrutiny. The incident highlights the complex relationship between social media platforms and geopolitical tensions, particularly in regions where government control and international sanctions intersect.