Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened a Twitter account in Farsi on Monday, seeking to reach out to the Iranian public as world powers moved closer to reaching a final nuclear deal with Iran. Tweets posted on Netanyahu's new account, @IsraeliPM_Farsi, restated his argument that such a deal would "pave the way for Iran to get nuclear bombs and billions of dollars for terrorism" and that the Iranian leadership should not be engaged diplomatically while it orchestrates anti-U.S. "hate marches" on the streets of Tehran. An Israeli official said Netanyahu aimed to persuade ordinary Iranians they stand to lose from a deal that limits, but does not eliminate, Iran's nuclear program, because "the more the regime feels strong and impervious to foreign pressure, the more it increases domestic oppression." Netanyahu's office said the Farsi account will publish content similar to his English and Hebrew accounts to engage the Iranian people directly. Netanyahu has a popular following on Twitter and often tweets videos and photos with messages critical of the Iranian regime and the nuclear negotiations. Twitter, Facebook, and other popular social media sites are technically banned in Iran but Iranians are active on Twitter through proxy servers. Key Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Jared Zarif, all have large followings and tweet official statements. Netanyahu's office said no decision had been made whether to interact with politicians on the new Twitter feed.
Netanyahu tweets in Farsi to blast Iran nuclear deal
Seeking to engage Iranian public directly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opens Twitter account in Farsi • He tweets that emerging deal would "pave the way for Iran to get nuclear bombs and billions of dollars for terrorism."
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