An animated rap video released by the Iranian embassy in Beijing, using internet memes and pop culture, is gaining popularity in China. The video mocks US leaders and celebrates Iran-China ties, resonating with younger audiences.

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. This included an animated version of Pesar Ammeh Za – a puppet....