Iran has mocked U.S. President Donald Trump over his secret aircraft switch during a visit to Turkey, claiming the extraordinary security operation showed his fear of Iran’s military power.
The Islamic Republic’s embassy in South Africa also piled in, sharing a meme showing Trump inside a catering box surrounded by food and warning that he ‘will be hidden in a trash can before long’.
The embassy’s X account, which is listed on its official website, often goes viral for memes that are also reported by Iranian state media.
‘Again, Trump, with his new scandal, has become the top subject in the U.S. media these days. A scandal stemming from fear of Iran’s military power, a power that caused Trump, last month, while returning from Turkey, to secretly switch his plane,’ said a presenter on state television, adding that the episode has become a source of ‘humiliation’ for Trump.
Tehran also hit back at Trump’s claim that the US has ‘total control’ of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the vital waterway remains under the ‘management and control’ of the Islamic Republic.
Hossein Taeb, the head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary unit, made the declaration on Thursday, a day after Trump’s remarks.
Trump’s secret aircraft switch was prompted by a threat that Air Force One could be targeted by a shoulder-fired missile, a person briefed on the matter said.