‘Khamenei 2.0: New generation, same terror regime, still evil’: Israel projects message at Times Square

A giant digital billboard in New York’s Times Square has become the latest stage in the information war between Israel and Iran, after Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared a video showing a stark message aimed at Iran’s new leadership: “Khamenei 2.0: New generation, same terror regime, still evil.”

The message, displayed on a massive LED screen in the middle of the busy New York landmark, was highlighted in a social media post by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said the display was intended to underline that Iran’s leadership transition does not signal a change in the regime’s nature.

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“In Times Square, the message is clear: The face may slightly change, the Iranian terror regime does not,” the ministry wrote in its post accompanying the video.

A message aimed at Iran’s new leader

The statement specifically targets Mojtaba Khamenei, who has emerged as Iran’s new supreme leader following the death of his father Ali Khamenei. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s post, Mojtaba Khamenei represents continuity of the legacy of repression and violence rather than change in Tehran’s ruling system. “Mojtaba Khamenei continues his father’s legacy of repression, war, and bloodshed,” the message reads.

In Times Square, the message is clear:
The face may slightly change, the Iranian terror regime does not.

Mojtaba Khamenei continues his father’s legacy of repression, war, and bloodshed. pic.twitter.com/qv23TTu3MI

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) March 14, 2026

Times Square as a global stage

Times Square, known for its towering LED screens and heavy tourist traffic, has long been used by governments, activists, and companies to project messages meant to reach global audiences.

The video shows the message playing across the massive digital billboard in one of the world’s most visible public spaces, turning the political statement into a public display watched by thousands in person and a much wider global audience online.

By placing its messaging there, Israel appears to be leveraging the iconic location to underscore its narrative about Iran’s leadership and policies.

Information war beyond the battlefield

The viral video reflects how the conflict between Israel and Iran is increasingly being fought not only through military strikes and diplomatic pressure but also through global messaging campaigns and symbolic displays.

By projecting its statement in Times Square and amplifying it through social media, Israel’s foreign ministry sought to deliver a simple message: while Iran’s leadership may have a new face, Israel argues the regime itself remains unchanged.