The social media platform X has recently placed a suspension on an account purportedly representing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which had been posting messages in Hebrew.
This suspension came early on Monday and was accompanied by a brief notice stating, “X suspends accounts which violate the X Rules.” The specific reasons for the suspension remain unclear, and the ownership of X, under Elon Musk, has yet to provide a comment regarding the decision.
This action by X follows a recent escalation in tensions, as Israel conducted strikes against Iranian targets over the weekend, marking an overt military engagement for the first time. In a speech delivered on Sunday, Khamenei addressed the situation, suggesting that the impact of Israel’s actions should neither be overstated nor minimized, while refraining from advocating any retaliatory measures.
The newly suspended account made its debut on Sunday with a post in Hebrew that included a standard Islamic greeting: “In the name of God, the most merciful.” Khamenei’s office has maintained several verified accounts on X for years, communicating various messages in multiple languages including English.
In a follow-up message that mirrored his speech, Khamenei’s English account stated, “Zionists are making a miscalculation with respect to Iran. They don’t know Iran. They still haven’t been able to correctly understand the power, initiative, and determination of the Iranian people.” This remark alluded to Israel’s military actions against Iran, which occurred over the weekend.
This incident is not unprecedented for Khamenei, as he has faced suspensions from other social media platforms in the past. Notably, in February, Meta took down Khamenei’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram due to his support for Hamas in the wake of its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Access to platforms like X and Facebook has been restricted in Iran for several years, forcing citizens to utilize virtual private networks to connect.
In related developments, Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to address the recent Israeli airstrikes.
The Swiss presidency of the council announced the meeting, organized on Monday and supported by countries including Russia, China, and Algeria, representing Arab interests within the council.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that his nation intends to respond “appropriately” to Israeli military actions. In statements made Sunday, he emphasized that while Iran does not seek conflict, it will defend its sovereignty and rights against what he termed the “Zionist regime’s aggression.”
Pezeshkian also remarked on U.S. assurances to Iran regarding a cessation of conflict in Gaza and Lebanon if Iran exhibited restraint, pointing out that those promises had not been fulfilled. He warned that continued aggression by Israel could lead to escalating tensions, implicating the United States in encouraging such actions.
Furthermore, Iranian officials announced that one civilian lost his life as a result of the recent Israeli attacks, although details surrounding the incident remain scarce. The state news agency IRNA identified the deceased as Allahverdi Rahimpour, a resident of a suburban area on the outskirts of Tehran.
While details of the circumstances leading to his death were not provided, IRNA clarified that he was not affiliated with Iran’s military forces.
Overall, the situation remains tense, with Iran signaling its intention to respond firmly to Israeli actions while calling for international attention to the conflict.