As Israel’s air strikes on Iran intensify and Iran’s retaliatory missile launches continue, ordinary Iranians find themselves caught between fear for their safety and cautious hope for political change. From gridlocked highways leading out of Tehran to shuttered marketplaces and hushed whispers of regime collapse, citizens across Iran are navigating unprecedented turmoil. This article explores the lived experiences, anxieties, and aspirations of Iranians in Tehran, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Isfahan, and beyond.
A Capital Paralyzed: Evacuation Attempts and Urban Silence
Traffic Chaos on Tehran’s Outskirts
On the morning after Israel’s initial strikes, motorways leading north out of Tehran—normally dotted with commuters—transformed into a 200-kilometre standstill. Pari, a Tehran resident, described the scene: “We first tried heading north, but the roads were completely jammed. People were out of their cars, drinking tea, smoking. Gridlock stretched across four lanes.” With petrol rationed to 20 litres per vehicle and internet access cut, many found themselves turning back to the city they hoped to escape.
A Ghost Town Where Bazaars Once Bustled
By afternoon, downtown Tehran had fallen eerily silent. The venerable Grand Bazaar—long a symbol of the city’s commercial heart—saw its shutters drawn. Side streets and markets were empty, save for the occasional military vehicle or security patrol. “It feels like a ghost town,” said Pari, reflecting on the emptiness. “No one’s out. Everyone’s either left or hiding inside.”
Scarcity and Strain: Rising Prices and Limited Shelter
Many who managed to reach northern provinces found a different battle: soaring costs and full hotels. “Bread that costs 500 tomans here is 15,000 tomans there,” said Pari, referring to a steep 30-fold price increase. “There’s nothing left to buy, and nowhere to stay.” Essentials—from medicine to baby formula—became nearly impossible to secure. Those who turned back to Tehran prepared “minimum kits” of documents, clothing, and bedding, unsure when another evacuation opportunity would arise.
Bomb Blasts and Sleepless Nights
Nighttime Explosions Rattle Buildings
Hanna, a female professional in Tehran who spoke on condition of anonymity, recounted her first moments under attack: “I heard blasts around 3am. At first I thought it was fireworks. Then my phone began ringing—friends panicking, sending pictures of fires and missile strikes.” Windows shook across her apartment block; the sense of security she once felt in her home was shattered.
The Toll on Civilians
According to Iran’s Health Ministry, at least 244 people—many civilians—have been killed by Israeli strikes on residential and mixed-use neighborhoods. Videos circulated on social media showed smoldering high-rise apartments, charred cars, and bystanders rushing to aid the injured. Dr. Ahmed Alfara, who treated victims in Rafah’s makeshift clinics, described head-wound injuries consistent with sniper fire targeting crowds at aid distribution sites. “It’s catastrophic,” he said. “Entire families… wiped out in their homes.”
Voices from the Regions: Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Isfahan
Ahvaz: An Unsettling Aftermath
In Ahvaz—a southwestern city near the Iraqi border—Mohammad might a local government official, witnessed last week’s strikes “intense.” “Windows shook across the city,” he said. “It was unlike anything I’ve seen. People are really shaken now.” Fuel shortages compounded the trauma, as baseless rumors of upheaval led to panic buying at petrol stations.
Khuzestan: Mourning and Melancholy
Further west in Khuzestan province, Ali—a teacher—lamented civilian casualties. “They struck residential buildings. Many of the dead were scientists, professors, families sleeping together. Among the victims were women and children.” On Monday, mourners carried five coffins through Khorramabad, chanting prayers for the slain. “This attack crossed every moral line,” Ali said, tears in his eyes.
Isfahan: Quiet Defiance
In central Isfahan, Hassan offered a cooler take on the strikes: “Life goes on. Fruit shops are open. But people now see the regime’s drum was loud but hollow.” He recounted the crushing of domestic protests—like the 2022 Mahsa Amini demonstrations—and contrasted it with the government’s apparent inability to defend Iranian soil. “They crushed their own citizens with batons,” he said, “but when it came to a real threat, they collapsed.”
Public Sentiment: Fear Entwined with Faint Hope
“Mix of Fear and Joy” in Tehran
Despite the violence, some express cautious optimism about the conflict’s political fallout. In Tehran neighborhoods battered by blasts, Mehdi described a “mix of fear and joy.” “Yes, people worry about jobs. But there’s happiness, especially after hearing about the deaths of 20 senior commanders,” he said, referencing strikes on high-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard officers. “For 40 years, they held us hostage. In the poorest quarters, there’s real joy at seeing them fall.”
Desire for Regime Change—Without Full-Scale War
Many interviewees spoke of longing for an end to clerical rule but recoiled at the prospect of all-out war. “We want the regime to fall, but not through war,” said Mehdi. “We want liberation, not destruction.” Iranians recall decades of economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and cultural repression. Yet they fear that external conflict could deepen suffering rather than bring meaningful change.
Government Response: Mixed Signals from Tehran
Iran’s leaders have decried the Israeli strikes as “terrorism” and vowed retaliation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on state television: “If Israeli strikes cease, our responses will also stop.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has framed the conflict as a battle against “Zionist aggression,” urging unity. Meanwhile, internal security forces clamp down on dissent, arresting journalists and throttling internet access.
International Reactions and Regional Dynamics
U.S. Ambivalence and Trump’s Ultimatums
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing the situation from the G7 summit, warned Iran: “If you strike U.S. targets, you will face the full might of America.” He hinted at assessing a potential assassination of Khamenei but stopped short, tweeting that although “he’s an easy target,” the U.S. would refrain from such action “for now.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that further U.S. options “may” be on the table, pending presidential direction.
Global Calls for Restraint
European leaders and the United Nations have urged de-escalation. Security Council briefings in New York featured impassioned appeals from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who lamented the humanitarian cost and warned against widening the conflict. Neighboring Iraq and Gulf states—especially Oman and Qatar—have offered to mediate indirect talks.
Iran’s Regional Alliances
In Pyongyang last week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that North Korea would send thousands of military engineers to help rebuild Russia’s Kursk region, a sign of deepening Russia-North Korea ties amid their own contentious relations with the West. Iran’s regional proxies—Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen—remain technically committed but held in check by Tehran’s cautious strategy, avoiding direct escalation that might draw full-scale U.S. intervention.
Humanitarian Impact and Future Outlook
Civilian Toll and Displacement
The conflict has displaced tens of thousands within Iran, as families abandon border towns and seek refuge in larger cities or rural hideaways. International aid organizations report shortages of medical supplies in key urban centers, exacerbated by sanctions and disrupted logistics. Hospitals strained under mass casualty events struggle to treat both combatants and civilians.
Economic Repercussions
Iran’s economy, already reeling under Western sanctions, faces further strain. Oil exports have dipped as Gulf shipping routes grow perilous. Currency markets reacted with a sharp 15 percent devaluation of the rial against the U.S. dollar in early trading this week. Inflation surged above 60 percent year-on-year, eroding purchasing power for staple goods.
Prospects for Negotiation or Escalation
Diplomats speak of a narrow window to broker a ceasefire: if Iran halts missile launches and Israel refrains from further attacks on population centers, back-channel diplomacy via Oman or Switzerland could re-open talks. Yet mutual distrust runs deep. Iran’s hardliners see any ceasefire as capitulation, while Israel’s leadership deems regime change the ultimate goal. As President Zelenskyy of Ukraine warned: “We cannot allow wars to smoulder across multiple theaters.”
Conclusion
As rockets continue to fly and cities brace for further strikes, Iranians wrestle with existential questions about their nation’s future. Fear—of death, displacement, and economic collapse—dominates daily life. Yet in hushed conversations over tea and amid closures of once-bustling bazaars, there flickers a hope that this traumatic chapter might finally unravel the decades-old grip of the clerical regime. Whether through diplomatic channels or internal upheaval, Iranians long for a resolution that secures their safety and dignity—without plunging the region deeper into all-consuming war.
