Tehran, Iran – Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, faced another setback in his social media presence when his newly created Hebrew X account was suspended shortly after its launch on Sunday, October 27. The suspension came in response to two contentious posts that many viewed as escalatory amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel. Khamenei's initial post on the platform began with an Islamic greeting in Hebrew, stating, “In the name of God, the most merciful.” This was followed by a message declaring, "The Zionist regime made a mistake. It erred in its calculations on Iran. We will cause it to understand what kind of strength, ability, initiative, and will the Iranian nation has."
The timing of Khamenei's posts coincided with heightened military tensions in the region. Just a day prior, Israeli forces executed “precise” strikes on Iranian military bases, a retaliatory measure following a missile attack on October 1, in which Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel. The Israeli strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least four Iranian soldiers. Khamenei's social media activity has drawn scrutiny in the past; in February, both his Facebook and Instagram accounts were removed due to his vocal support for Hamas following the group's attack on Israel on October 7, 2024.
This latest suspension underscores the ongoing challenges leaders face in navigating social media platforms while addressing politically sensitive issues. As tensions continue to rise between Iran and Israel, the international community remains watchful of both nations' actions and rhetoric, with Khamenei's suspended account serving as a reminder of the complexities of communication in an increasingly digital world.