The Tech Transparency Project has accused X of potentially violating US sanctions by providing premium services to Iran's supreme leader. The watchdog group claims the newly verified account for Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new leader, appears to be paying for X premium despite being on the US government's sanctions list since 2019.

The account, created this month, bears a blue checkmark indicating a paid subscription. TTP director Katie Paul stated that X has been profiting from sanctioned entities, including accounts linked to designated terrorists. The group previously reported that X was accepting paid verification from over two dozen sanctioned individuals and groups in 2024.

This controversy comes amid X's government contracts, including with the Pentagon, while allegedly profiting from US adversaries. The company removed blue checks from several Iran-based accounts flagged by TTP last month following Wired's reporting. X has not responded to requests for comment about these latest allegations.