A diplomatic post by Iran’s mission in Ghana has gone viral after he jokingly took a jab at US President Donald Trump and reached out to Italy with an offer of friendship and alliance. The post came after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly criticized Trump for his remarks about Pope Leo.
“Dear Italy, your Prime Minister has just defended the Pope and lost an ally in Washington – a commander in mourning but the most powerful fool in the world. We would like to apply for the vacancy.”
“Our qualifications: 7,000 years of civilization, a shared love of poetry, architecture, and food that takes longer to prepare than Trump’s attention span. The only thing Iran and Italy have ever fought over is who invented ice cream. Faloodeh was first. Gelato was louder. We were in a ‘cold’ war over it for 2,000 years after Iran.
Meloni criticizes Trump’s statements
Meloni previously called Trump’s attack on the pope “unacceptable,” marking a rare and direct criticism from a leader often seen as close to Washington.
Trump sparked outrage by calling the pope “monstrous” and sharing an AI-generated image of him in a Christ-like form, sparking backlash from political and religious groups.
Meloni stressed that “it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war”, emphasizing the role of the Pope as a moral voice during global tensions.
Growing unrest in Europe
The episode reflects broader discomfort in Europe about Trump’s rhetoric, particularly in Italy, where the pope holds great cultural and spiritual significance.
Iran’s new style of digital diplomacy
In this context, the Iranian mission in Ghana used humor and sarcasm to engage in the conversation, reflecting a broader shift in its online diplomatic style.
Iran’s missions have recently adopted a more casual and meme-driven tone on social media, mixing geopolitics with humor and pop culture.
A recent example came from the Iranian consulate in Mumbai, which shared a post on the Israeli-Palestinian issue with an Indian twist, ending with the Hindi line, “Aur bhai, yahan gyaan bhi milta hai aur swag bhi”.
In another post, the consulate used a popular Bollywood dialogue – “Abhi toh sirf trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai” – while referring to Iran’s naval power.
Tensions remain high
The development comes amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, including a US naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies.
