In brief
In the wake of Israel’s attacks, Tehran residents grapple with their conflicting emotions and the haunting possibility of becoming a war zone.
Long queues of cars snake through Tehran as residents attempt to flee the capital, amid escalating conflict with Israel. The suddenness of the attacks has left many, particularly the youth, feeling a mix of fear, confusion, and helplessness. “We’ve been sleepless for nights,” lamented a 21-year-old music student, who wished to remain anonymous. She expressed her refusal to leave, stating, “It’s more honorable to die in my own house than to run away.” Her sentiments resonate throughout the city, where another young woman described feeling excitement initially upon hearing of Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military leaders. Yet, she immediately turned to sorrow when she learned of the civilian casualties. With reports indicating over 220 deaths in Iran, including women and children, there’s growing apprehension over the effects of the conflict on the Iranian populace. Unlike the well-prepared defenses in Israel, the atmosphere in Tehran lacks immediate warnings or shelters, prompting fear among residents as missiles and bomb threats surface without notice. Some suggest that they are told to seek refuge in mosques or metro stations, yet the explosions seem pervasive and random. “It feels like every neighborhood has faced some form of damage,” one woman told BBC Persian. She and her family fled, seeking safety elsewhere, reflecting the kind of pervasive anxiety felt by those caught in the chaos. The sense of insecurity has strained relationships — many families find themselves divided over the ongoing conflict and its implications. “I think this may be the end of our freedoms and rights, and it's terrifying,” she remarked, recognizing that all lives are irrevocably altered by the violence and moral dilemmas presented. Amidst the turmoil, lines are drawn between those who support the regime being targeted and others who view the Israeli actions as horrific. While some in the Iranian diaspora express relief at the targeting of regime members, many voice sorrow for civilian casualties. Dorreh Khatibi-Hill, a women’s rights advocate living abroad, emphasized the difficulty of explaining the intensity of current experiences to outsiders. “We don’t want this war,” she stated. “We want neither the regime nor foreign intervention.” As tensions continue to escalate, ordinary Iranians await developments with a mix of hope and despair — realizing that they wish to avoid a fate similar to that of Iraq or Syria, while also yearning for freedom from oppressive governance.
