US State Department begun sending Twitter in Farsi- a blow against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The US State Department has begun sending Twitter messages to Iranians in Farsi to reach out to Internet-savvy Iranians. Its first tweet reads: “US State Dept recognizes historic role of social media among Iranians. We want to join in your conversations.” It’s not clear, however, that Iranians return the sentiment, given that the feed has only 15 followers so far. The move comes as Iranian activists attempted to arrange a protest expressing solidarity with the uprising in Egypt.

It can be read @USAdarFarsi.

The feed was launched just one day before opposition leaders and activists in Iran have called for a protest in support of the Egyptian revolution, according to Saham News. The rally is planned to coincide with the 25th day of Bahman, the 11th month of the Persian calendar.

Following the resignation Friday of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the head of Iran’s National Security Council, among other Iranian authorities, lauded the leader’s toppling, comparing “the Egyptian Revolution with the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution,” according to Iran’s state-run media.