After 12 days of war that killed over 600 Iranians and displaced hundreds of thousands from the capital, a ceasefire announced on Monday has begun drawing residents back to Tehran. The city, still scarred by Israeli air strikes, is slowly returning to life. For many returning to Tehran, the relief of sleeping in their own beds is tempered by the constant fear that the bombing could resume at any moment.
“Coming back home after all these days, even from a place where you had physical safety, feels like heaven,” said Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer who spent nearly two weeks sheltering with her husband at their relatives’ home in Zanjan, some 286 kilometers northwest of the capital. “But I don’t know if the ceasefire will last or not,” she added, echoing the uncertainty that many Iranians feel.
The conflict that upended millions of lives began at dawn on June 13, when Israeli warplanes launched a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. What followed was an unprecedented exchange of fire between the two regional powers that brought direct warfare to the heart of Tehran for the first time in decades.
As Israeli attacks on residential areas intensified and warnings from American and Israeli officials to evacuate Tehran grew louder, many residents, fearing for their lives, were forced to flee the capital for the relative safety of other cities and villages.
For many of Tehran’s inhabitants, abandoning their lives was a soul-crushing decision. “I had an incredibly busy life before the war,” said Saba, a 26-year-old university student. “I lived in Tehran, had a full-time job, was studying, and since I lived alone, I managed all my household chores. When the war started, for a few days, I couldn’t believe this routine was coming to a halt.”
The Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education reported that at least 610 people were killed and 1,481 wounded during the conflict, with more than 90 percent of the casualties being civilians. “The nights were unbearable,” said Kamran, a businessman and CEO of a private firm in the capital. “Initially, I had decided to stay in Tehran and keep the company running… The nights, however, were truly unbearable.”
As the ceasefire took effect, both sides accused each other of violations, and fear of renewed violence has been high. Iran reported continued Israeli attacks for several hours after the agreement, while Israel claimed to have intercepted Iranian missiles post-ceasefire.
Keyvan Saket, a renowned Iranian musician, had learned of his home being hit by an Israeli missile while sheltering with his family in a nearby town. “Once the issue was resolved and we were allowed inside, we faced an unsettling scene,” he said. “The doors and windows were shattered, the building’s facade was obliterated, and household appliances like the washing machine and refrigerator were severely damaged.”
Saket’s voice carried a deep sorrow as he reflected on the toll of the conflict. “With every fibre of my being, I despise war and those who ignite it,” he said, lamenting the loss of a home he cherished. “War is the ugliest of human creations.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire, the streets of Tehran are visibly busier than before. As companies end their remote work policies and recall employees, there is evidence of a cautious, determined return to life in the capital.
“Seeing others return to the city alongside me, watching cafes and restaurants reopen, and feeling life flow back into the streets – it truly lifts my heart,” said Saba, her eyes bright with cautious optimism. Yet, as the city stirs back to life, the shadow of an uncertain ceasefire looms, a quiet reminder that this fragile revival could be tested at any moment.