The billboard, unveiled on 25/1 in Enghelab Square, central Tehran, presents an aerial view of a US aircraft carrier. The image shows US fighter jets on the carrier exploding, with bodies strewn across the deck. Three long blood streaks spread across the water behind it, evoking the image of the US flag. In the bottom right corner, the phrase "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind" is displayed.
This serves as a warning message from Tehran to Washington at a time when the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its escort warships were deploying to the Middle East, following a statement by US President Donald Trump.
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Billboard depicting a US aircraft carrier with the phrase "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind" at Enghelab Square, Tehran, Iran, 25/1. _Photo: AP_ |
"We are sending a very large fleet over towards Iran. A lot of ships are heading over there as a precaution. I don't want to see anything happen, but we are watching them very closely. We'll see what happens," Trump stated on 22/1.
Enghelab Square is a frequent venue for major government events, with billboards updated to reflect national developments. On 24/1, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that Iranian forces were on high alert, with "fingers on the trigger."
Tensions between Washington and Tehran recently escalated following protests that erupted in Iran in late 12/2025. The wave of protests, initially sparked by merchants dissatisfied with the economic situation and the depreciating rial, began peacefully but quickly turned into deadly violence.
Iran accused "terrorist agents" from Israel and the US of inciting the unrest, while the US State Department denied the claims, stating that Tehran was "distracting public opinion from internal issues."
Some human rights organizations outside Iran estimated over 15,000 deaths, mostly protestors. However, Iranian officials rejected these figures, reporting 3,117 fatalities, including 2,427 security personnel and civilians, with the remainder categorized as "terrorists."
Hong Hanh (According to AP)
