Israel countered the charm offensive of Iran’s new president by posting a fake Linkedin page for Hassan Rouhani on their official Washington embassy web site.
“I’m a career politician, expert public relations professional, leading international salesman and longtime advocate of nuclear proliferation,” the Rouhani page reads, under his smiling head shot.
“Since my election as President of Iran in 2013, I developed and have executed an unprecedented PR campaign for the government of Iran,” it added.
“Through a series of statements, tweets, op-eds and smiles I have rebranded the human-rights suppressing, Ayatollah-led regime as moderate and a source of hope among the international community.”
The bogus page also lists his “skills & expertise” under headings such as “engaging public speaker,” “ deceptive trade practices” and “weapons of mass destruction.”
The page appeared Tuesday, hours before Rouhani was scheduled to make his first major international appearance in his inaugural address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu, who will deliver a rebuttal to Rouhani when he address the UN next week, directed his diplomats to walk out when Rouhani speaks.
During the day Rouhani used his Twitter account to update followers about his meetings with world leader.