By Ian Werther in News — 14 Mar 2026

Iran's Supreme Leader Hamenei Uses X Blue Check, U.S. Sanctions Questions

Iran’s newly elected supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyed Moztaba Hamenei, has a blue verification badge on his official X account, the platform’s paid subscription mark. The account in question, “@Rahbarenghelab_,” carries the blue check that X assigns to paying subscribers.

X’s Blue subscription unlocks features such as longer post length, the ability to upload high-definition videos, and increased visibility in searches and feeds. The authentication badge is visible on Hamenei’s account, highlighting the platform’s paid-service model.

Hamenei’s team has suggested the subscription is meant to help him reach a larger audience and convey messages more fully, particularly given the current political climate in Iran and abroad.

Old submerged trees on Cheow Lan Reservoir Lake in Surat Thani, Thailand. Remnants of the old Shorea Dipterocarp forest. The lake shores still harbour forests with rich flora diversification and dense undergrowth, including many trees native to Thailand. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The move drew scrutiny from U.S. observers. The Technology Transparency Project (TTP), a nonprofit watchdog, told CNBC that the use of a paid account by a sanctioned leader constitutes a “clear sanctions violation.” TTP has argued that X has, in the past three years, provided premium services to individuals subject to U.S. sanctions and now appears to be extending the same to a sanctioned Iranian official.

U.S. sanctions authorities remain in force on Iran. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prohibit U.S. companies from dealing with designated Iranian entities or individuals without government authorization, with strict penalties for violations.

The WonderSwan Color, a Japanese handheld gaming console released in late 2000. The WonderSwan Color was the follow-up to Bandai's original monochrome WonderSwan that was released the previous year. The new handheld could now display in color and also had some other minor improvements. The LCD used for the color screen was a non-backlit FSTN type, which was picked in consideration of cost. However, this lower-quality screen didn't look as good as the TFT LCD screens featured in rival handhelds the Neo Geo Pocket Color and the Game Boy Color. Bandai would later release the Swan Crystal, another revision that featured a higher quality TFT LCD screen. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

SpaceX, X’s parent company, did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. Separately, TTP has reported that other Iranian sanctions targets held paid X accounts, a claim that prompted the removal of some verification marks after media scrutiny.

Hamenei’s posts on X have included hardline statements, including vows of retaliation for martyrs and calls to maintain pressure related to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Such rhetoric underscores the potential for heightened regional tension and implications for global energy markets.

For U.S. readers, the issue matters beyond Iran. It highlights tensions between sanctions enforcement and social-media platforms, raises questions about how U.S.-based tech companies manage compliance when dealing with sanctioned figures, and points to potential risks for energy supply chains and financial markets if signaling from Tehran translates into heightened regional risk or disruption around the Hormuz region.

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