Demonstrators set fire to a giant banner depicting Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, JD Vance and US envoy Steve Witkoff during a rally in Tehran following the Republican Party’s midterm election losses.
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Demonstrators in Iran’s capital set fire to a giant poster depicting US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an anti-American and anti-Israeli rally in Tehran, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue.
The large banner, which also featured US Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, was burned at Enghelab Square on Wednesday evening, November 4.
The demonstration came shortly after the Republican Party suffered major losses in the US midterm elections, which Iranian officials portrayed as a political setback for Trump and his administration.
Demonstrators demand revenge over Khamenei’s death
Crowds gathered in central Tehran to watch the banner burn, waving Iranian flags and displaying red flags calling for revenge over the death of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Some flags carried threatening slogans directed at Trump, reflecting anger among demonstrators over the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
The gathering was part of wider anti-American demonstrations marking the anniversary of the November 4, 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran.
The embassy seizure led to a hostage crisis in which 52 Americans were held for 444 days.
Iran links Trump’s election setback to war
The rally also reflected Iranian officials’ reaction to the Republican Party’s poor performance in the US midterm elections.
Iranian leaders have portrayed the electoral setback as evidence of public dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies, particularly the war against Iran and its economic consequences.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said American voters had rejected the war, while other Iranian officials described the results as a political defeat for Washington.
However, Iran’s leadership has cautioned against assuming that changes in US domestic politics will fundamentally alter Washington’s approach towards Tehran.
US-Iran tensions remain high
The demonstration comes amid continuing uncertainty over the future of the US-Iran conflict and diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed military escalation.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February 2026, has expanded into a wider regional crisis, affecting security and shipping across the Middle East.
Diplomatic contacts involving regional governments and international mediators are continuing, but major disagreements remain between Washington and Tehran.
The burning of the banner highlighted the depth of political hostility between the two sides as efforts to find a diplomatic resolution continue.
