The all-in-one cameraman, lighting assistant, soundman and anchor of Hakha Television tweaked the maroon handkerchief in his breast pocket, glanced around his secret suburban studio and began his latest peroration to his fellow "Persians" thousands of miles away in Iran.

"I want to see that you can hear me," he said. "Come out on the streets. Bring flowers, chocolates and anything friendly. If the police come to attack you, look at their eyes and say, 'I love you. I love you'."

For three and a half years Ahura-Pirouz Khaleghi Yazdi has been broadcasting a daily two-hour blend of Zoroastrianism, music and political chitchat from a variety of private addresses in and around Washington.

As is often the case with political exiles, analysts believe that he and other émigré Iranian broadcasters have minimal support back home. "They have no traction at all," a long-time observer of Iran said.

Yet the debate in Washington may finally be going their way, after the administration's decision to take a leaf out of the Cold War play book and promote such broadcasting to try to undermine the mullahs.

"The trouble with the US government is that by the time they digest what is happening, they are a few years out of date," said Mr Yazdi, who also runs an aviation consultancy.

"But I am glad they have woken up after 27 years [since the 1979 Islamic revolution]."

In a sign of a new determination to confront the regime, the administration wants to take its message directly to the people by exploiting the internet and satellite television.

Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, has pledged £45 million for the new drive.

"This will make a lot of difference," said Zia Atabay, a pop star in the Shah's day who is now general manager of National Iranian Television, one of a dozen Iranian satellite stations in Los Angeles.

"Up to now we have not had any help," he said. "I don't want cash, otherwise people will say I am taking American money for myself. I want equipment. We broadcast 12 hours a day but if something like this happens we will broadcast 24 hours a day."

Iranians have seized on the new initiative to lobby for their cause in Congress. Although now is not the best time to be a Middle Eastern exile in Washington: officials are still smarting from the false intelligence that Iraqis propagated before the war.

The administration appears to be concentrating its attention on more orthodox outlets than the exiles’.

Two of the main beneficiaries are expected to be Radio Farda ("tomorrow" in Farsi) which replaced the old Voice of America Farsi service in 2002, and the Voice of America's television service.

This was already planning on investing a further £5 million this year to expand its Farsi broadcasts from one to four hours a day.

If, as expected, they get more money they hope to air a programme for Iranian youth and women addressing subjects the clerics deem taboo.

"It's a very exciting time," said Sheila Gandji, who oversees the VOA's Iranian service.

He has predicted this before - to the mirth of Teheran - but this time, he says, will be different.

US officials are not relying on his predictions – but they do see merits in his mode of delivery.