Iran's Hamshahri daily publishes revenge collage with Trump, Netanyahu in crosshairs and Merz in prison uniform

Propaganda collage

On 11 July 2026, the Tehran-based daily Hamshahri published an online graphic showing US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with crosshairs on their foreheads. The image also displays eleven other Western leaders in orange prison uniforms, resembling attire worn by US detainees. Among them are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, recently resigned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The headline of the piece reads: "A list of those who must await the vengeance of the Iranian people." Another inscription under the crosshair images states: "Resistance Front. Revenge is inevitable. The criminals will carry the wish for death with them."

Revenge is inevitable. The criminals will carry the wish for death with them.

Vengeance vow after Khamenei's death

The collage appeared on the same day that the country's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, openly threatened revenge for the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. The elder Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes at the start of the latest conflict in late February 2026.

This is the wish of a whole nation and must be carried out.

Mojtaba Khamenei said it was the duty of all Iranians to avenge his father's killing, and that those responsible "will not have a peaceful death."

Trump had already warned of a death list

Days earlier, on 8 July, President Trump had publicly claimed that the Iranian regime was plotting to assassinate him. "I'm number one on the death list," Trump told reporters. The accusation heightened tensions after he declared the ceasefire between the two countries over.

I'm number one on the death list.

Ongoing confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz

Mutual attacks have continued since the truce collapsed. According to US sources, Iran admitted that attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were carried out by "out of control extremists." Washington is demanding a public commitment from Tehran to secure shipping lanes and stop the assaults.

The confrontation also extends to the nuclear file. The US administration expressed pessimism about reaching an agreement. Iran's UN ambassador warned that Tehran will no longer consider itself bound by the nuclear accord if the United States attacks again.