Iran has accused U.S. social media platform X of “selective censorship” after verification badges were removed from accounts linked to its foreign ministry, according to Anadolu.
The claim was made in a statement posted on Tuesday by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
Foreign Ministry Accounts Affected
Baghaei said the blue verification check marks were removed not only from his own account but also from the official profiles of Iran’s foreign ministry and its foreign minister, despite them having paid for Premium+ subscriptions.
He described the move as “arbitrary de-verification,” raising questions about platform transparency.
Allegations of Information Suppression
The statement alleged that the action reflects a broader pattern aimed at suppressing Iran’s narrative regarding the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.
Iranian officials argue that such measures limit their ability to communicate directly with global audiences.
Amid the controversy, an Iran-linked official account in Zimbabwe posted a list of key Iranian figures on X, urging users to follow them after verification badges were removed.
“Since X has started removing verification marks from Iranian official accounts, it’s good to have this list in case you missed following them,” the post read.
The accounts listed included those linked to senior Iranian leadership and institutions, such as:
- Mojtaba Khamenei
- Masoud Pezeshkian
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
- Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei
- Abbas Araghchi
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson account
- Other senior officials and affiliated profiles
Since X has started removing verification marks from Iranian official accounts, it’s good to have this list in case you missed following them 👇@MKhamenei_ir @drpezeshkian @mb_ghalibaf @ejei_org @araghchi @IRIMFA_SPOX @ir_rezaee @mmohammadii61 @hatami_org
— Iran Embassy in Zimbabwe (@IRANinZIMBABWE) May 5, 2026
There has been no immediate response from X regarding the allegations.
