The makers of Game Of Thrones have warned Donald Trump over his use of imagery from the show to announce sanctions being imposed on Iran.

The US president shared an image of himself looking off-camera while striding forward on top of a moody grey background, with the words "Sanctions are coming. November 5" across his chest.

The font is the same as that used in hit TV show and the wording is a riff on one of the famous lines from the series, "Winter is coming".

The post alludes to Mr Trump reinstating sanctions against Iran that had been removed under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Game Of Thrones makers HBO said in a public statement: "We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes."


The company's Twitter account posted the words: "How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?"

Dothraki is one of the languages spoken in the Game of Thrones universe.

Iran has also hit back, with the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying Mr Trump has "disgraced" America's prestige.

Adding that the US is the "defeated side and the Islamic Republic is the victorious party" in 40 years of hostility between the nations, the ayatollah said: "This new US president... has disgraced the remnant of America's prestige and that of liberal democracy.

"America's hard power, that is to say their economic and military power, is declining, too."

Two of the stars of Game of Thrones also appeared unimpressed with Mr Trump's reference to Game Of Thrones.

Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, retweeted the president post and wrote: "Not today."

Meanwhile, Sophie Turner - who portrays Sansa Stark - simply tweeted; "Ew" in response to Mr Trump's post.

"Winter is Coming" is the motto of one of the main families in the show, the Starks.

In the series, it is a reference to being vigilant and in a state of preparedness for any danger or hardship.

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A number of social media users mocked Mr Trump's Twitter post, with some referring to Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian meddling in the US presidential election.

Other online users highlighted that the background of the picture appears to echo official images of the Night King, a powerful and evil character who commands an army of supernatural warriors intent on crossing an enormous wall that was built to keep him and his army at bay.

The White House has announced it is to reinstate all US sanctions on Iran removed under the 2015 nuclear deal.

It is the second batch of penalties that the administration has reimposed since Mr Trump withdrew from the landmark deal in May.

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It comes as the US says global oil supplies will exceed demand next year, making it easier for countries to cut Iranian oil imports to zero.

Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, told reporters that Saudi Arabia had been "very helpful" in bolstering oil supplies while the US moved to reimpose sanctions against Tehran.