Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, suspended the Hebrew-language account of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday, hours after it was created. The account, tagged as @Khamenei_Heb, was taken down following a post that read, “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.” A message on X now shows the account as suspended due to “violating X’s rules.”

A Day-Old Account Shut Down Amid Controversial Post

Ayatollah Khamenei launched the Hebrew account on Saturday night, marking a rare engagement with Israeli audiences. The account’s inaugural post, “In the name of Allah, the most merciful,” appeared shortly before the suspension. Hours later, Khamenei’s message criticizing Israel was removed, drawing no immediate response from X. While X’s rules prohibit content from “violent and hateful entities,” certain state or governmental entities are allowed exceptions, which has raised questions about X’s stance on Khamenei’s post.

Israeli Responses and Reactions on X

Following Khamenei’s initial post, ZAKA, an Israeli emergency response organization, replied with a line from the Jewish Kaddish prayer for the deceased. This response, which translates to a subtle message hinting at Khamenei’s end, underscored the mounting tensions. Khamenei’s Hebrew message was later reposted on his official English-language account, Khamenei.ir, which has over one million followers. The English post retained the same warning tone aimed at Israel.

Israel’s Strikes on Iranian Military Targets

The suspension of Khamenei’s account comes in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on several Iranian military sites. Dubbed “Days of Repentance,” the operation was conducted on Saturday morning and involved a series of targeted attacks aimed at Iranian drone and missile production facilities. Over 20 strategic targets were reportedly hit, dealing significant damage to Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. These strikes were, in part, retaliation for an October 1 incident in which Tehran fired 180 ballistic missiles towards Israel, triggering 1,800 rocket sirens across Israeli territories.

Reports Suggest Iran Preparing for Khamenei’s Succession

Amidst this escalating conflict, reports have emerged suggesting that Iran may be preparing for Ayatollah Khamenei’s succession. Khamenei, now 85 years old, is reportedly facing serious health issues, leading to widespread speculation over who might succeed him as Iran’s Supreme Leader. The New York Times reported on Saturday that discussions about Khamenei’s possible successors have intensified, adding another layer of tension to the already complex geopolitical landscape.