Ex-Iranian foreign minister condemns X for removing verification, restricting account

ISTANBUL

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned the social media platform X on Thursday for imposing restrictions on his personal account, in addition to removing his verification badge.

“I have been a responsible X user since 2009, with 1.6 million real followers. I've had a blue tick since 2013, when I became foreign minister,” said Zarif on X.

Addressing the platform’s owner Elon Musk, he said: "Why did X remove my check mark, restrict my account and even shadow ban me exactly when the world needs to know all the facts?"

Zarif had posted criticisms on his X account directed at Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over attacks on Iran.

Hostilities began Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, at least 639 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to Iranian media reports.