Iranian billboard artists use AI-crafted ads to mock Trump amid Hormuz tensions
Tehran's state-linked studio Khaneh-ye Tarrahan creates massive AI-enhanced billboards that ridicule Donald Trump and highlight Iran's recent naval actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Khaneh-ye Tarrahan, a Tehran studio operating under a major state media conglomerate, churns out towering billboards that lampoon U.S. President Donald Trump and celebrate Iran's recent naval successes in the Strait of Hormuz. Projects are launched quickly when news breaks; designers are briefed, brainstorm on whiteboards and employ AI engines such as ChatGPT and Nano Banana to generate graphics. Notable pieces include Trump’s sewn-up lips at Valiasr Square, a magician’s box scene referencing a July Turkish incident, and an Iranian soldier crushing a U.S. underwater drone after a "Hormuz catch."
Other posters glorify Ali Khamenei, Hassan Nasrallah and depict U.S. warships burning in the Persian Gulf. Residents say the vivid ads convey the war’s context to those who may not follow daily news. The studio’s media-monitoring team tracks the adversary to tailor messages, illustrating how visual propaganda has become a frontline in Iran's information battle.
Why it matters
The campaign shows how Iran uses AI-driven public art to shape domestic perception of its conflict with the United States.
How this story developed
- Sep 11 Renewed Yemen fighting forces over 46,000 people from their homes
- Sep 22 Iranian carriers suspended several overseas routes after the United States imposed new aviation sanctions, halting flights to Baghdad, Muscat and Qatar while some China services persist.
- Sep 22 UN agencies warned that displacement could rise to over 230,000 if the fighting continues.
- Sep 25 Trump publicly voiced support for Saudi self‑reliance against Houthi attacks.
- Sep 25 The UAE has not confirmed an official ban despite the cancellation of Iranian flights to Dubai.
- Sep 25 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on active-duty personnel and eligible relatives to register and request ballots ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
- Sep 27 Government forces launched intensified air and ground attacks in Taiz province.
- Sep 27 France announced a military mission to Saudi Arabia.
- Oct 2 The United States granted an exemption permitting Iraqi Airways to resume pilgrim flights to Iran.
- Oct 2 Saudi Arabia has moved from planning to actively preparing a large‑scale offensive to retake the Bab el‑Mandeb strait.
- Oct 4 Speaker Mike Johnson ended the House’s final day of session, halting the impeachment vote on Defense Secretary Hegseth.
- Oct 4 Government forces claimed that over 1,500 Houthi fighters were killed or wounded in a day of intensified combat across Taiz province. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili said the attacks involved air strikes, drones, artillery and missiles targeting rebel positions and command centres. The al-Houban crossing, a key supply route, was shut for security reasons after alleged infiltration attempts. The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, with Taiz hosting the largest number of displaced families. The conflict, which reignited after a fragile truce collapsed, continues to shape the strategic balance in Yemen.
- Oct 4 Houthis captured al‑Safiya district and blocked the Taiz‑Aden supply corridor.
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