In Tehran, Iran’s conflict with the United States extends beyond the battlefield into a visual war waged through massive, state-sponsored posters and murals. These artworks transform city walls into platforms broadcasting the government’s narrative far beyond its borders.

A prominent example is a towering image of former US President Donald Trump on Valiasr Avenue, one of Tehran’s busiest streets. His mouth is sewn shut and covered by a blue veil shaped like the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage through which nearly 25% of the world’s oil is transported. Installed on May 2, during intense conflict and stalled negotiations over the Strait’s reopening, the poster symbolizes Iran’s strategic leverage over this vital waterway.

Another mural depicts the lineage of Iran’s religious leaders: Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, stands beside Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the war’s initial strikes on February 28, handing the Iranian flag to his successor and son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Large-scale murals in Tehran continuously reinforce the values upheld by the Islamic Republic, commemorating martyrs of the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), displaying revolutionary slogans, and expressing anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments. A researcher noted, “The city thus becomes a vast narrative space.”

At the start of the Iran-Iraq War, many paintings were created by committed artists, art students, and talented amateurs, alongside community-driven local initiatives. However, the artistic and emotional dimension has gradually faded, replaced by a centralized process where massive billboards are commissioned directly by government bodies. Today’s compositions are far more sophisticated, borrowing visual language from advertising, cinema, and blockbuster movie posters, sometimes drawing inspiration from popular culture such as “The Lord of the Rings.”

This visual propaganda strategy, shaped during the Islamic Revolution and now enhanced by artificial intelligence, serves as a key element of Iran’s broader communication and psychological warfare.

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