Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has removed the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Meta permanently deactivated Khamenei's Instagram and Facebook accounts with 5 million followers.
"We removed these accounts because they repeatedly violated our 'Dangerous Organizations and Individuals' policy," a Meta spokesperson said.
Meta does not allow organizations or individuals who declare a political or violent mission, or who engage in violence, to have a presence on Meta.
Iran has long been accused of arming Hamas, which has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department. In 2021, the US State Department said the group received funding, weapons and training from Iran. The US administration also believes Iran is arming and training the Houthis in Yemen.
"There was a lot of pressure on Meta to stop Khamenei from supporting these organizations, which have been listed as dangerous organizations and individuals since October 7," said Mahsa Alimardani, a digital rights researcher at Article 19.
Meta did not provide a specific reason why Khamenei's account fell under 'Dangerous Organizations and Individuals'.
