From patriotic slogans to drones — Iran murals project defiance in war with US

Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, colourful murals have sprung up across Tehran and other major cities, rich in symbolism and themes of resistance and defiance. Murals and banners have long been a defining feature of Iran’s urban landscape, particularly in Tehran, where such paintings in central squares mirror the state’s political messaging and foreign policy. This photo taken on April 8, 2026 shows a woman walking past an anti-USA and anti-Israel mural, in Tehran. — AFP/File Since the 1979 revolution, which established the Islamic republic, such imagery has served as a medium to reflect ideology and collective memory. This photo taken on April 11, 2026 shows women walking past a wall mural along the roadside in Tehran. — AFP/File This photo taken on April 12, 2026 shows people walking past a wall mural along the roadside in Tehran. — AFP/File In recent days, a mural in Tehran showed a US aircraft carrier carrying rows of coffins draped in American flags, surrounded by small Iranian-flagged boats and a helicopter. This photo taken on Feb 11, 2026 shows women posing with a poster depicting Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they stand before a banner depicting a US Navy aircraft carrier with US-flag-wrapped coffins on the deck, during a rally marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Tehran. — AFP/File The image evoked dominance at sea, as Iran’s armed forces continue a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas in peacetime. Another mural depicts a man raising both arms, each wrapped in the Iranian flag, his hands forming a heart. This photo taken on April 6, 2026 shows a man walking past a banner depicting a man holding up a heart gestures before missiles being fired, in Tehran. — AFP/File Another shows the Iranian