Trump's Iran dilemma as Americans vote: escalate, negotiate or risk wider war

TEHERAN: Iran displayed a massive billboard and banners in the city's Enghelab Square, vowing to assassinate US President Donald Trump. The billboard, towering over the busy square, depicted Trump behind bars with his head bowed. New billboards and displays mocking and threatening Trump have frequently been erected around the city since the conflict began when US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28.

Diplomatic efforts to prevent a resumption of fighting have been ongoing, but US President Trump, facing important midterm elections, has indicated a possible deal could be reached. In Tajrish Square, an open-air exhibition featured paintings of Trump, including one with his bloodied face on the ground and another showing a bomb obscuring his face, seemingly referencing Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte's 1964 painting "The Son of Man."

Nearby, a life-sized jail cell remained on display, with an actor impersonating Trump for the day. An adjacent screen displayed images of damage caused by US strikes on Iran. Teheran accuses the US President of deliberately targeting civilian sites, including a school and a wedding, killing dozens, including women and children. State-sponsored billboards and murals have been a common feature in Iran's public spaces since the 1979 Islamic revolution, used to honor allies, celebrate military figures, and send political messages to enemies, particularly the United States and Israel.