{
  "id": 11853540,
  "title": "Trump, burger, Hormuz: meet the Iranian team behind billboard war on US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/trump-burger-hormuz-meet-the-iranian-team-behind-billboard-war-on-us",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T05:35:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3369685/trump-burger-hormuz-meet-iranian-team-behind-billboard-war-us"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Tehran, Iran, a team known as Khaneh-ye Tarrahan, or Designers' House, has been creating large billboards that mock US President Donald Trump and depict American drones under the control of Iranian soldiers. These billboards, which are displayed in prominent locations such as Tehran's Valiasr Square, are put up daily for large crowds to see. The team behind the billboards, led by 32-year-old Mostafa Kafaei, is a part of one of the country's largest state-run media conglomerates.\n\nKafaei's studio, which includes a media-monitoring team, works under the government and uses these billboards to convey Iran's messages. The billboards are sponsored by the government and are created in Photoshop, with the team known for their proficiency in AI, utilizing tools like ChatGPT and Nano Banana.\n\nOne billboard features Trump's lips sewn up and his mouth muzzled by the Strait of Hormuz, accompanied by the words \"At the breaking point\". Another showcases Trump trapped inside a magician's box, holding a Coca-Cola and a hamburger, with the message \"Blink, you're gone!\". The billboard alludes to a July incident in Turkey where Trump had to be smuggled from Air Force One to a different aircraft on a catering truck due to a security threat.\n\nThese billboards have been put up in response to Iran's war with the United States and Israel, with the blockage of commercial shipping through the Hormuz strait since late February. The team works at a rapid pace, turning around urgent posters within a few days. Although there was some initial hesitation about featuring Trump's face on the Valiasr mural, the overall assessment was that it would be exceptionally powerful. Kafaei explained that Trump is seen as a media personality and they respond in kind whenever he takes action in the public sphere.",
  "summary": "Huge billboards on the walls of Tehran mocking US President Donald Trump and depicting American drones under the boot of an Iranian soldier are providing a chronicle of Iran’s war with the United States and Israel. Khaneh-ye Tarrahan, or Designers’ House, produces the billboards with anti-US messaging for prominent locations in Tehran where they are seen daily by large crowds of passers-by,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Khaneh-ye Tarrahan, or Designers House, creates billboards mocking US President Trump.",
    "Billboards depict American drones under Iranian control, displayed in Valiasr Square.",
    "Trump depicted with muzzled mouth and trapped in magician's box, referencing Hormuz blockade."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Iranian government's use of billboards to mock Trump and showcase American drones under Iranian control signals a shift in tactics to engage with the US through public spectacle and ridicule.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}