While political leaders duel with explosions and missiles, the everyday lives of most Iranians have become filled with unimaginable fear and doubt. Photo by Kelly Davidson / US Fish and Wildlife Service With erratic internet and phone service, communication with the outside world has been nearly impossible. The Iranian military is in terminal decline during this chaos. Israeli airstrikes, most recently on May 27 and July 1 to assassinate officials involved in Iran’s military and nuclear programs, have increased this climate of anxiety.
Minister of Foreign Affairs the blood of over 200 people who have lost their lives to the recent violence and saddened Tehran. Although local stores stay open, a lot of them have started asking payment in credit since banks can’t offer cash withdrawals. The reality is much worse than that. There is a burgeoning sense of nationalism awakening among the public as they deal with the blowback of Western meddling.
Strikes and Their Impact
Israel’s military actions have deeply affected Iran’s leadership and infrastructure. An Israeli strike in Tehran significantly impacted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building. This attack, like the others uncovered so far, is a part of a wider attack on Iran’s digital and energy infrastructure. The brutal conflict is intensifying with alarming speed. In reaction, Ayatollah Khamenei has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments, made in the last few days, which suggest U.S.-Israeli military alliance.
“Israel and the US don’t care about the Iranian people.” – a woman in Tehran.
As one 22-year-old janitor in Tehran expressed his fears about these long-term impacts of reconstruction on the devastation, his tender and mournful observation reminds us all what’s at stake. He stated, “Rebuilding all this may take decades, if not longer, and in the end it’s we the people who will have to bear the cost.” The devastation has left many citizens questioning their future in an environment rife with uncertainty.
Amidst these dangerous conditions, many Iranians have made clear that they are ready to fight the battle for their future. A 78-year-old mosque caretaker from Isfahan, who lost a son during the Iran-Iraq War, articulated his resolve: “I lost a son during the Iran-Iraq War and will be happy to fight America and the Zionists again.”
Daily Life in Chaos
Increased tensions aside, daily life for the average Iranian has become filled with trepidation. Long convoys of traffic have developed as residents of Tehran attempt to escape the city, which is becoming dangerous with continuous shelling. A father of two lamented that although they still have electricity, it is rendered useless by their inability to travel safely outside the city: “We have electricity but gasoline is useless to us because we have nowhere to go outside Tehran.”
The pervasive atmosphere of fear is palpable. A 27-year-old conscript soldier described his harrowing experience: “It feels like a missile is following me. I go to Karaj and they bomb there. I come to Tehran and they bomb here.” Tellingly, others speak in a similar vein, projecting a sense of doom as civilian deaths increase.
“Daily life is filled with constant fear and distrust.” – a father of two in Tehran.
A hairdresser from Shiraz expressed his despair over the escalating violence: “I don’t even know what to say. You watch the videos, the photos. People are being killed. Our country is being looted, falling apart like this.” In sharp opposition, students like the latter have overwhelmingly celebrated and supported the Israeli strikes. They believe that these actions will ignite a much deeper shift in the future of their land.
A Growing Sense of Nationalism
Coming on the heels of the recent events, we do see a flourishing, ascending Iranian nationalism. Most are starting to respond by coalescing around their identity because they feel under attack from the outside. A 69-year-old Iranian-American visiting Tehran noted this shift in sentiment as she observed conversations among locals about unity against foreign interference.
“This is war.” – a 58-year-old father of two in Tehran.
This shifting sentiment … is an expression of the wild cocktail of fear and courage that characterizes the heart of the Iranian people. Despite widespread suffering, some citizens maintain hope for future generations, as expressed by a student from Shiraz: “I’m genuinely happy. Really, deeply happy! I believe it’s worth it, for the sake of future generations.”
Tens of thousands of families across Iran live under the continuous threat of displacement. They fail to adapt in an environment that’s becoming more hostile due to forces both inside and out.
