Iran Unveils Anti-Trump Billboard

Residents in Tehran saw a new billboard rise over Enqelab Square this week. The display marks the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the US embassy. The image shows Donald Trump behind bars. An English slogan below reads, "We will kill Trump."

The timing aligns with recent US midterm election results. Those results ended the prospect of a second term for the current administration. Iranian leaders view this shift as validation for their strategy. They have kept the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian influence for eight months. This control has pushed inflation and diesel prices higher in the US economy. Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that the American public may not sustain this burden to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

Iranian political figures are celebrating the outcome. Ehsan Movaheidian, an international relations scholar, claimed Iran achieved regime change in America. He predicted a similar outcome in Europe. In parliament, conservative member Meisam Zohurian said the aggressor was smeared in the dirt due to Iran's impact on the result. Ali Nikzad, the first deputy speaker, described the electoral defeats as aftershocks of Trump's defeat by the Iranian people.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei offered a cautionary note. He wrote that those expecting a change in US policy through partisan shifts were seriously mistaken. Other officials predicted further defeats for warmongers in Europe. They also predicted the eventual expulsion of US bases from the Middle East.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, addressed Trump on social media. He urged the president to accept the wisdom of the American people. Ghalibaf noted that America said no to war. He warned that if the US government betrayed this will to serve international paymasters, it would learn that Iran's refusal comes with a nightmare.

Other nations are watching the situation closely. Gulf monarchies, Russia, and China are looking for solutions to the oil export blockade. China is testing the feasibility of a deal where Iran dilutes its highly enriched uranium stockpile. This would happen under international supervision. A Chinese special envoy is traveling to Oman, Iran, and Saudi Arabia to explore these options. These nations may point out that Trump remained determined to keep Iran in his vice despite darkening opinion polls.

For the next two months, Trump has greater latitude before the new Congress convenes in January. This period allows him to pursue a legacy by potentially finishing the conflict. Influencer Laura Loomer is pressing for a quick strike. She argues there is nothing left to lose. Her credibility was damaged after she previously advised that regime change would be easy. Benjamin Netanyahu is touting intelligence about Iran preparing chemical weapons.

Hillary Clinton believes Trump will launch the long-delayed attack. She said he will feel trapped and react aggressively. Trump told Fox News this week that Iran has very few missiles and drones left. He stated the US is dealing with total strength. He expressed confidence that the conflict could be ended at any time.