Elon Musk’s X Appears to Be Violating US Sanctions by Selling Premium Accounts to Iranian Leaders

Wired

by David Gilbert

February 12, 2026

While publicly supporting protesters in Iran, Elon Musk’s X appears to have been selling premium accounts to regime officials. Check marks were removed from certain accounts after a WIRED inquiry.

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Originally published on Wired on 2/12/2026