The social media platform X has made headlines by suspending a new account opened by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, despite Khamenei’s office maintaining multiple accounts for the leader on the platform for years. The account, which posted messages in the Hebrew language, was suspended early on Monday morning with a brief note stating that the account “violates the X Rules.” However, the reason for the suspension is unclear, as X did not respond to a request for comment.
The suspended account opened on Sunday with a message in Hebrew reading “In the name of God, the most merciful,” a standard Islamic greeting. The account also sent a second message corresponding to a speech Khamenei gave on Sunday, in which he expressed his thoughts on Israel’s recent attack on Iran. In the speech, Khamenei stated that Israel’s strikes “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” but stopped short of calling for retaliation.
This is not the first time Khamenei has run into trouble with social media platforms. In February, Meta removed Facebook and Instagram accounts for the supreme leader over his support of the militant group Hamas after an attack on Israel last year. Khamenei’s office has maintained multiple accounts for the leader on X for years, and has sent messages in a variety of languages in the past.
The suspension comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. On Saturday, Israel launched an attack on Iran in response to a ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier this month. Khamenei’s comments on Sunday suggesting that Israel’s strikes “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed” were seen as a warning to Israel not to underestimate Iran’s power and determination.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Image via Getty)
Despite the suspension, Khamenei’s office may not be too concerned. Social media platforms like X and Facebook have been blocked in Iran for years, requiring Iranians to use virtual private networks to access them. As such, many Iranians may not have been able to access the account anyway. Nevertheless, the suspension is likely to be seen as a significant move by X to distance itself from the controversy surrounding Khamenei and Iran.
In recent years, social media platforms have faced increasing pressure to take action against accounts that promote hate speech, violence, and other forms of harmful content. Companies like X and Meta have implemented policies aimed at reducing the spread of false information and promoting more moderation on their platforms. The suspension of Khamenei’s account is likely to be seen as a reflection of these efforts.
Ultimately, the suspension of Khamenei’s account on X is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the supreme leader and Iran’s relationship with Israel. As tensions continue to rise between the two countries, the role of social media platforms like X and Facebook in shaping public opinion and facilitating communication between nations will become increasingly important.
