Giant billboard in Iran shows Trump in coffin and a chilling 'kill' message

Amid an escalating wave of attacks, Iran has installed a gigantic billboard depicting US President Donald Trump lying in an open black coffin at its main Enghelab Square. The mural, which shows Trump lying with his eyes closed and his hair dishevelled, carried a chilling text - 'We kill Trump'. The installation comes days after Trump mentioned the possibility of an assassination attempt by Iran.

The development comes at a time when Iranian hardliners close to the government have called for avenging the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The pent-up anger against the US was witnessed during the week-long funeral ceremonies of Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the conflict. Chants of 'death to America' and massive 'Kill Trump' posters flooded Iranian cities during the ceremonies.

ESCALATING THREATS AGAINST TRUMP

The gigantic billboard with Trump lying in a coffin is being seen as an escalation of the rhetoric. A graffiti splattered beneath the installation reads "in memory of Minab's children". It is a reference to strikes on an elementary school in the Iranian city of Minab on the first day of the conflict, killing over 150 people, including 120 girls.

The threats against Trump have only grown louder following a rare statement by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has kept out of the public eye.

"We pledge that we will avenge your pure blood and the blood of all those martyred in these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers," Mojtaba said. "This revenge is the demand of our nation, and it must certainly be carried out," he further said.

A section of Iranian hardliners, buoyed by the public support received during Ali Khamenei's funeral, has also opposed diplomacy to broker a lasting peace deal with the US.

As of now, the ceasefire between the US and Iran appears to have entirely collapsed, with fears of a return to full-scale war. Over the past week, the US has targeted Iranian missile sites and coastal facilities and has also reimposed its naval blockade.

Iran responded by firing a barrage of missiles at US military bases in the Gulf, particularly in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

The tit-for-tat strikes have once again crippled movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and gas flows. It has again sent global energy prices soaring.

ISRAEL WARNS OF 'KILL TRUMP' PLOT

Notably, the latest 'kill Trump' mural comes days after Israel alerted the US of fresh intel of an Iranian plot to assassinate the president. A section of experts believe it might have provoked an egoistic Trump to pound Tehran again.

Trump, speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey, said he was aware of Iran's plot to "take him out".

"I am on whatever list... I am on every single one of their lists. And so far, I have been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn't last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer," Trump said.

US security officials have said they had gathered intelligence in recent weeks about possible plans to kill Trump, according to a CNN report.

- Ends