Residents of Tehran are feeling terrified and describe the city as a ghost town following intense U. S.-Israeli airstrikes that have killed hundreds since Saturday. Streets are largely empty, occupied mostly by security checkpoints and Revolutionary Guards. Despite hopes from leaders in Israel and the U. S. for an uprising in Iran, conversations with people in the country reveal no signs of imminent protests. A woman named Fariba Gerami commented on the pervasive fear, mentioning electricity and water cuts, along with worries about home burglaries, prompting her family to plan for an escape from Iran as soon as it is safe.
Destruction is widespread, as confirmed by two Iranian men crossing into Turkey, who described scenes of panic and numerous civilian buildings and vehicles being damaged. An ongoing sense of anxiety is felt deeply among those who remain, especially following strikes that impacted a hospital in Tehran and a girls’ school in southern Iran, where the reported death toll is around 150. A grieving mother expressed her fears about taking her child, who requires dialysis, to the hospital because of the potential for further bombings.
Iran claims that the death toll from these attacks has reached 787, leading the nation to retaliate with drone and missile strikes on targets in the region, including military and civilian sites in surrounding countries. The unfolding catastrophe has ignited anger towards Iran’s leaders, especially following the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which sparked mixed reactions across Tehran.
In northern Iran, a retired army officer criticized years of Khamenei’s policies, questioning the benefits of the nuclear program amid such violence and isolation. A woman in Urmia reported the severity of recent bombings, noting a lack of shelters and assistance while residents stockpile food due to concerns over supply shortages. Aged individuals also express fear for their loved ones overseas and anxiety about their own safety amidst the bombings, such as an 80-year-old woman in Bushehr who voiced her worry about never seeing her children again. Overall, people are living in constant fear of the destruction and uncertainty that surrounds them.
With information from Reuters
