Report: X may have sold premium accounts to sanctioned Iranian officials
A Tech Transparency Project report shared with WIRED found more than two dozen Iranian government and state media accounts had X Premium blue checks, prompting questions about potential violations of US sanctions after some checks were removed.
- TTP identified more than two dozen accounts linked to Iranian officials, state agencies and state-run news outlets with blue check marks.
- A blue check mark on X indicates an X Premium subscription, which offers boosted reach and costs $8 a month or $40 for Premium+.
- Several accounts with blue checks belonged to individuals already listed as specially designated nationals by the US Treasury, including Ali Larijani and Ali Akbar Velayati.
- X removed some blue checks after WIRED flagged specific accounts, while other identified accounts still displayed blue checks at publication.
- OFAC exemptions allow free public access to platforms for ordinary Iranians but do not authorize paid premium services for sanctioned entities without a license, so paid subscriptions could fall outside the authorization.
- The Treasury declined to comment on specifics but said it takes allegations of sanctionable conduct extremely seriously.