Large billboards have appeared across Tehran, showcasing anti-US messaging and providing a chronicle of Iran's war with the United States and Israel. The billboards, sponsored by the government, feature a range of images, including Trump's lips sewn shut and an Iranian soldier stepping on a US underwater drone. The images are designed to convey the government's messages to large crowds of passersby, including in prominent locations such as Valiasr Square.
The billboards are created by teams of graphic designers, including those at Khaneh-ye Tarrahan, or Designers' House, a studio that works under one of the country's biggest state-run media conglomerates. The studio's manager, Mostafa Kafaei, said the team works quickly to produce the billboards, often in just a few days, using software such as Photoshop and AI engines like ChatGPT and Nano Banana.
One of the billboards features a towering portrayal of Trump's lips sewn and his mouth muzzled by the Strait of Hormuz waterway, accompanied by the words "At the breaking point". Another shows Trump trapped inside a magician's box, clutching a Coca-Cola and a hamburger, with the words "Blink, you're gone!". The billboard references a July incident in Turkey where Trump was smuggled from Air Force One to a different aircraft on a catering truck due to a security threat.
The billboards also depict Iranian victories, including an image of an Iranian soldier stepping on a US underwater drone, and a mythical warrior standing in raging seas as US warships burn. The images are accompanied by messages such as "Business is good" and "Satan's army will drown in the Persian Gulf". The billboards are designed to boost morale and provide a sense of national pride.
The studio's use of AI has become a key part of the production process, allowing the team to work quickly and efficiently. Kafaei said the team is "highly proficient in AI" and uses various AI engines to create the billboards. The team's media-monitoring team also plays a crucial role in keeping up to date with the latest developments in the war.
The billboards have caught the attention of many Tehran residents, including retiree Mahmoudreza Rezaei, who recalled seeing a billboard that referred to "Satan's wedding gift" - a message he understood to be directed at Trump after an alleged US attack in the country's south. Sahar Jahedi, a 24-year-old pharmacy worker, said she was captivated by the billboard of Trump trapped in the magician's box.
The billboards are part of a broader effort by the Iranian government to use propaganda to promote its message and boost national pride. The government has also used other forms of media, including social media and state-run television, to convey its messages and counter US and Israeli propaganda. The use of billboards has been particularly effective in reaching a wider audience and providing a sense of national unity.
Key points
- The Iranian government is using billboards to mock US President Donald Trump and depict American victories.
- The billboards are created by teams of graphic designers using AI engines.
- The billboards are part of a broader effort by the Iranian government to use propaganda to promote its message and boost national pride.
