Meta shuts down social media accounts of Iranian leader Khamenei

Tech giant Meta has deleted the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announcing that it bans individuals who have a "violent mission or are involved in violence."

This decision by Meta is a result of its stated policy to remove the glorification, support, and representation of various dangerous organizations and individuals from its platforms.

The ban is also being linked to reactions from pro-Israel groups against the Iranian leader's online presence in parallel with Israel's war in Gaza.

Khamenei's Persian-language Instagram page had more than 5 million followers, and its English version had more than 200 thousand followers. Additionally, his former Facebook page had approximately 16 thousand followers.

This move by Meta is considered part of social media platforms' efforts to combat violent content and individuals.