Residents of Tehran are speaking out about their experiences during the recent Israeli attacks on Iran, expressing feelings of fear, confusion, and helplessness. A 21-year-old music student, known as “Donya,” shared her concerns, saying, “We haven’t slept for nights. Everyone is leaving, but I’m not. My dad says it’s more honorable to die in your own house than to run away.” Donya emphasized her desire to protect her city, stating, “I really don’t want my beautiful Tehran to turn into Gaza“.
Many Iranians are caught in the middle of the conflict, caught between a regime they loathe and Israel’s military power. When asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for Iranians to rise up against their clerical leadership, Donya firmly responded, “We don’t want Israel to save us. No foreign country ever cared for Iran. We also don’t want the Islamic Republic”.
The conflict has sparked mixed emotions among Iranians. One woman initially felt a “strange excitement” seeing Israeli forces target powerful Iranian military officials but soon felt sorrow, fear, and sadness as civilian casualties mounted. “For the first time in my life, I have started to prepare for the idea of dying,” she said.
The situation in Tehran is dire, with long queues at petrol stations and bakeries, and gridlocked traffic as people attempt to flee the city. According to Iranian authorities, over 220 people, including women and children, have been killed since Friday. In contrast, Israeli authorities report that Iranian missiles have killed at least 24 people in Israel.
As the conflict escalates, many Iranians are struggling to cope. Dorreh Khatibi-Hill, a Leeds-based women’s rights activist, expressed her concerns, saying, “It’s hard to convey what it’s like to be an Iranian right now. You’re happy that members of the regime – who have been torturing and murdering people – are being taken out. But we know that civilians are dying. This is a devastating humanitarian disaster”.
The Iranian diaspora is also feeling the impact, with many worried about the future of their homeland. The situation remains uncertain, with Iranians anxiously waiting to see what will happen next.