A new report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), obtained exclusively by WIRED, alleges that Elon Musk’s social media platform X is undermining U.S. sanctions by selling premium accounts to high-ranking Iranian officials—many of whom Musk publicly criticizes.
While Musk has publicly voiced support for Iranian protesters and condemned the country’s leadership, the report claims that X has been providing blue-check premium accounts to government officials, state media, and agencies linked to the Iranian regime. These accounts have been used to broadcast government propaganda, even as ordinary Iranians faced near-total internet blackouts.
What the TTP Report Reveals
The TTP report identifies more than 20 X accounts belonging to Iranian government employees and state-affiliated entities that were verified with the platform’s premium “blue check” status. These accounts were reportedly used to amplify state-sponsored messages, with some posts boosted through paid promotions.
“Elon Musk is not only giving visibility to these individuals but also accepting their money to boost their content through premium subscriptions,” said Katie Paul, director of the TTP. “This directly undermines U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.”
Tensions Escalate in Iran
Protests have rocked Iran since late December, sparked by the rial’s plummet against the dollar and a worsening economic crisis. Demonstrators are calling for regime change and the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has held power for 37 years. The government has responded with brutal crackdowns, resulting in thousands of arrests and deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump voiced support for the protesters on his Truth Social platform, while Musk called Khamenei “delusional” on X. Days later, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran’s judiciary chief and a verified X user, posted: “This time, we will show no mercy to the protesters.” After WIRED contacted X about the account, the blue check was removed.
In a further escalation, X replaced the Iranian flag emoji with the pre-1979 revolution version. Musk then announced that anyone with a Starlink terminal—his satellite internet service—could access the internet for free, bypassing the government’s near-total internet shutdown.
Who’s Behind the Verified Accounts?
Among the Iranian officials identified by TTP is Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Khamenei and a U.S. Treasury-designated architect of the regime’s crackdowns on peaceful protests. Larijani, who has over 120,000 followers, responded to Trump’s calls for protests by calling him a “leading murderer of the Iranian people.” After WIRED’s inquiry, X reportedly removed his verification.
Another verified figure was Ali Akbar Velayati, a close confidant of Khamenei and former foreign minister. Velayati is sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for supporting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and is wanted in Argentina for his alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. He also lost his blue check after the report.
Ali Ahmadnia, the Iranian president’s communications chief, was also verified. His X profile included a Bitcoin donation link, which legal experts say could violate U.S. sanctions by facilitating prohibited financial transactions with a sanctioned government.
“A Bigger Problem,” Experts Say
“X is profiting directly from premium subscriptions sold to sanctioned entities,” Paul said. “Since Musk’s acquisition, we’ve seen a deterioration in trust, safety, moderation—and now, legal compliance.”
This is not the first time Musk has faced scrutiny over sanctions. In June 2025, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to the Treasury Department about TTP’s findings that X sold verification to individuals sanctioned for terrorism.
“By failing to enforce basic sanctions compliance, X is undermining U.S. national security and the integrity of our financial system,” Warren told WIRED.
As of publication, X has not responded to requests for comment.
Source: Olhar Digital, Wired
