Tehran's wartime billboards mock Trump, project strength

• Tehran displays large-scale anti-US and anti-'Israel' billboards, mocking US President Trump and boasting of Iranian military strength.
• State-linked studio Designers' House turns around high-impact visuals in days using Photoshop alongside AI tools like ChatGPT and Nano Banana.
• Displays feature key conflict themes, including the Strait of Hormuz blockade, captured US drones, and pop-culture riffs.
• Local responses range from intrigue over complex visual riddles to recognizing the billboards as information tools amidst daily survival challenges.

Towering billboards depicting US President Donald Trump, muzzled world leaders, and American drones under the boot of Iranian soldiers have transformed the streets of Tehran into a visual chronicle of Iran's ongoing war with the United States and 'Israel', Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported after gaining rare access to the design studio behind the campaign.

The prominent displays -sponsored by the Iranian government and installed at high-traffic hubs such as Valiasr Square- are designed to broadcast political messaging directly to large daily crowds.

Among the prominent pieces created by Khaneh-ye Tarrahan (Designers' House) is a towering billboard showing Trump's lips sewn together and muzzled by a representation of the Strait of Hormuz, accompanied by the slogan "At the breaking point".

State-funded studio 

Studio manager Mostafa Kafaei, 32, told AFP that his team of up to eight graphic designers operates under a major state-run media conglomerate, mobilizing immediately as news breaks to conceptualize and execute posters within days.

"Speed has become a top priority," Kafaei explained to AFP, adding that his staff relies on Photoshop alongside advanced AI tools like ChatGPT and Nano Banana to accelerate production.

Kafaei compared the studio's role to a battlefield scenario, describing their output as a direct response to a media personality who continuously fires at them in the news sphere:

"He is a media personality... We respond in kind whenever he takes action in that space. We keep a close watch on our opponent and respond accordingly."

Satirical imagery 

The billboards feature varied artistic references reflecting the military standoff that began in late February following US-'Israeli' strikes on Iran.

The Magician's Box: One design from an external studio depicts Trump trapped inside a magician's box holding a Coca-Cola and a hamburger with the caption "Blink, you're gone!", a reference to an incident in Turkey where Trump was moved via a catering truck due to a security threat.

The "Hormuz Catch": Another billboard portrays an Iranian soldier stepping on a captured U.S. underwater drone alongside the text "Business is good", commemorating a recent Revolutionary Guard interception.

Album Parody: A third display riffs on Nirvana's Nevermind album cover, showing Trump underwater reaching for a dollar bill next to the words "GREAT VICTORY! Strait of Hormuz".

Persian Gulf Battle: Additional artwork depicts a mythical warrior standing in burning seas with the message "Satan's army will drown in the Persian Gulf".

From curiosity to political engagement

Kafaei noted that the displays help people who "may not be politically minded" grasp the overall context of national events.

Speaking to AFP, 53-year-old retiree Mahmoudreza Rezaei recalled trying to decipher a billboard referencing "Satan's wedding gift", which alluded to a US strike in southern Iran that hit a wedding ceremony.

"It kept me pondering for a few minutes, trying to decipher the meaning... It had a bit of a riddle-like quality," Rezaei told AFP.

Sahar Jahedi, a 24-year-old pharmacy employee, told AFP that while many citizens are struggling to survive during wartime, such public art plays a "significant role in keeping more people informed about current events".