The Iranian embassy in Beijing has released an animated rap video featuring internet memes and pop culture to mock US leaders and celebrate Iran’s warm ties with China.
The two-minute video What is the East? was published on Monday afternoon and had drawn over 370,000 views by noon the next day.
It also carried a strong message of Eastern unity and leaned heavily into millennial and Gen Z nostalgia to demonstrate cultural crossover.
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This included an animated version of Pesar Ammeh Za – a puppet from the popular Iranian children’s show Kolah Ghermezi – sitting down and drinking tea with Ne Zha, the rebellious, dark-eyed mythological figure who has inspired two hit animated Chinese films.
By contrast, US President Donald Trump was depicted at one point as a pirate on board a ship with a Jack Sparrow-like figure.
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He was shown next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was depicted as the Bride of Chucky in a leather motorcycle jacket and gown.
The video also mocked US foreign policy in the Middle East by depicting a squad of smiling American presidents – including Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush – dressed as soldiers carrying away barrels of oil.