Residents of Tehran are living in a state of constant tension as airstrikes and drone attacks hit the city, leaving many fearful for their lives. Footage and testimonies obtained by the BBC reveal a population on edge, always anticipating the next explosion.
Baran, a businesswoman in her thirties who requested her name be changed, describes her life as a daily gamble. “With the start of drone attacks, no one dares to go outside. Stepping out of my door feels like risking my life,” she says. She remains in constant contact with friends, tracking each other’s safety, even when silence alone feels threatening.
The city’s recent unrest has compounded these fears. Following nationwide protests demanding change in January, thousands of Iranians were killed in a brutal crackdown. Many, like Baran, feel their hopes for reform have been shattered.
Security measures are now pervasive. Pro-regime supporters patrol neighborhoods at night, displaying flags to intimidate potential dissenters. State media controls the narrative, airing footage of funerals and demonstrations, and reinforcing anti-Western rhetoric. Independent journalists risk arrest or worse when reporting alternate perspectives.
Some residents share their fear and frustration only at home. Ali, a man in his forties, describes streets filled with armed, masked security forces. “The city feels like the city of the dead. I take anti-depressants just to keep myself normal,” he explains. Citizens witness government supporters dominating public spaces, further eroding a sense of safety.
Despite the repression, hope persists. Many Iranians long for change, even if it comes amid fear and conflict. “The skies above us are controlled by enemy forces, yet people still hope that one day the regime will end,” Ali says.
For Baran, the war is intimate and all-encompassing. “This conflict is inside our homes, our families, and our lives. The psychological impact will last long after the bombs stop,” she reflects. The citizens of this ancient city endure the threat of foreign airstrikes, the pressures of a strict regime, and a pervasive, unrelenting fear with no immediate relief in sight.
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