Baal on Fire, Iran’s Fiery Message to the West

1. A Revolutionary Anniversary with a Twist

On February 11, 2026, tens of thousands of Iranians took part in state-organised rallies marking the 47th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. These rallies — held nationwide in cities from Tehran to Isfahan — blended political chanting, patriotic slogans and symbolic acts meant to underline Iran’s resistance to perceived foreign enemies.

One act, however, drew global attention: a huge statue labelled “Baal” — complete with a horned, bull-like head — was set aflame in public squares, with crowds chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.”

The imagery was unlike previous demonstrations, raising questions about why an ancient pagan deity — rarely invoked in modern Middle Eastern politics — suddenly appeared at the center of Iran’s revolutionary pageantry.

2. What Is “Baal” — And Why Use It in 2026?

“Baal” was an ancient deity worshipped in parts of the ancient Near East — particularly among Canaanite and Phoenician cultures. In biblical (and later Islamic) tradition, Baal is depicted as a false god opposed to monotheism, often associated with idolatry and moral corruption.

For centuries, Baal has appeared in religious texts as a symbol of idol worship and deviation from the teachings of prophets. In later traditions, the name became associated with evil, false gods, and even Satanic imagery, despite its historical roots as a legitimate ancient god.

Iran’s organisers used this loaded religious symbol to represent what they view as corrupt, decadent and hostile Western influences — especially the United States and its allies. Placing this figure at the heart of a state rally was meant to signal that Iran’s enemies are not just political opponents, but morally bankrupt and spiritually corrupt forces.

3. A Political Propaganda Statement

But the symbolism was not limited to religion.

Photos and videos shared on Iranian media and social platforms showed that the Baal effigy was not a neutral ancient statue. It was adorned with modern symbols:

A Star of David painted or affixed to the statue’s head.

Israeli and American flags draped at its base.

A picture of US President Donald Trump attached to its side.

In some depictions, imagery invoking the number “666” and references to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein circulated online alongside the statue’s burning.

By including these elements, the Iranian organisers turned the symbolic burning of Baal into a political theatre — casting Israel and the United States, as well as specific Western leaders, as embodiments of corruption and moral decay.

4. The Trump and Epstein Angle

So why was a picture of Donald Trump attached to the statue — and why were images referencing Jeffrey Epstein’s leaked files present in related online conversations?

The answer lies in several intersecting narratives that have taken hold in parts of the Iranian media ecosystem and certain corners of online discourse:

● Trump as a Symbol of Western Policy:

Donald Trump remains one of the most visible American political figures internationally. In Iranian state rhetoric, portraying Trump’s image on an effigy being burned conveys opposition not just to his past policies, but to American influence in the Middle East and Washington’s stance toward Tehran.

● Epstein Files and Misinterpreted References:

In late January 2026, the United States Department of Justice released a portion of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal investigations — including scanned financial records. Some of those records contained text that reads like “baal.name,” which spread rapidly online.

But fact-checkers have pointed out that this appearance is almost certainly not evidence of occult worship or a secret coded reference to Baal:

The phrase “baal.name” is likely a mis-read OCR (optical character recognition) error or a mistranscription of “Bank Name” in scanned documents.

No credible evidence has been found that Epstein or his associates engaged in occult rituals or worshipped Baal.

Despite this, online discussions — including some amplified within Iranian state channels — have embraced the chaotic, symbolic idea that Epstein’s files reveal elite immorality tied to ancient demonology. It’s a powerful visual narrative, even if it’s not grounded in verified fact.

In this climate, Trump’s association with Epstein in online memes and posters — whether accurate or not — fed into the performance of burning Baal as a stand-in for “Western corruption.”

5. What Iran Aims to Communicate

The burning of the Baal statue — despite its confused mix of religious symbolism, modern political targets and controversial internet images — was intended as a multi-layered message:

✔ Rejection of perceived Western moral authority: The act implies that the West worships wealth, power and corruption — just as ancient idol worshippers worshipped false gods.

✔ Opposition to Israel and U.S. power: The Star of David and American iconography reinforce Iran’s geopolitical grievances.

✔ Propaganda for domestic and regional audiences: By invoking conspiracy imagery, Iranian organisers aim to tap into distrust of Western elites and promote solidarity against outside foes.

6. Reactions and Risks

International reaction to the display has been mixed:

Western and Israeli media highlighted the use of hostile rhetoric and imagery, calling it inflammatory.

Some analysts warned that blending religious myth with modern geopolitics could inflame sectarian tensions and feed misinformation.

Fact-checkers stressed that connecting real figures like Epstein to ancient deities is based on misinterpretation or error in leaked documents rather than established fact.

At home, the Iranian regime broadcast the event as an illustration of strength and resistance, while critics said the spectacle distracts from domestic issues like economic hardship and political discontent.

7. A Burning Symbol, A Blurred Message

In the end, the burning of the Baal statue in Iran on Feb. 11 became more than an anniversary ritual. It became a visual manifesto — fusing ancient myth, modern politics and online narratives — to project a message of defiance.

Whether one sees it as political theatre, propaganda, or something more, the event highlights how symbols can be repurposed rapidly in a world where ancient religion, social media, geopolitics and conspiracy theories collide.