‘We want change but not like this’: Iranians describe daily life under air attack | Iran

Up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been temporarily displaced since the start of the US-Israeli military campaign, according to the UN’s refugee agency, a figure expected to rise as the conflict continues into its third week. While many Iranians have fled major cities for rural areas, millions remain in the capital despite ongoing airstrikes.

Displacement and Daily Life in Tehran

Nafise, a 30-year-old jewellery designer, is among those remaining in Tehran. Her online business has been impacted by both January’s internet shutdown during anti-government protests and the current war.

Nafise and her husband, Farhad, 33, have renovated their apartment, adding personal touches like family photos and Persian rugs. Despite the improvements, the sound of explosions has become almost constant in what was once a quiet neighborhood.

The couple, along with friends, now gather at each other’s homes most evenings, sharing food and finding support. Nafise expressed hope for change but not through continued war, stating, “We don’t want this war. We want change, but not like this.” She clarified that protests in January did not indicate support for the Pahlavi dynasty.

Nafise noted a brief hope for systemic change after the death of Ali Khamenei, but that hope diminished when his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was chosen as his successor. “The system is deep and complicated,” she said, adding that change will not happen quickly or through war.

Economic Impact and Concerns

Amir, 40, who owns a shop distributing brake pads in southern Tehran, travels to the capital daily for work. He expressed concern about a prolonged war and the impact on Iran’s economy, noting the potential for progress if sanctions were lifted.

As of late 2023, at least 1,444 people have been killed and nearly 19,000 injured in Iran, according to the country’s state news agency. Iran has retaliated with strikes on US targets, but a direct communication channel between the US and Iran has been reactivated, Axios reports.

The conflict has caused oil prices to spike above $100 a barrel after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to the US, Israel, and their allies. Divisions within NATO have also been exposed, with the UK and European governments hesitant to become involved.

Vincent Cassard, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Tehran, stated that civilians are bearing a heavy burden. “I am seeing the heavy strain that the recent escalation of hostilities has placed on people in Iran, who fear for their lives, the safety of their loved ones and their livelihoods,” he said. He also noted disruptions to daily life, including school closures and business shutdowns.

Mojtaba, a 30-year-old documentary film-maker, described a life now centered in a Tehran basement for safety. “Right now, not even residential homes are safe from attacks. We feel the shockwaves of blasts throughout the city,” he said.

Moen, a 14-year-old student, expressed boredom and a desire to return to school, as the war has disrupted his education and social life.

Asal, a 35-year-old clothes designer, remains determined to stay in Tehran despite her worries about the future. “This is my home, and I’m not leaving, whatever the circumstances,” she said.

The conflict also impacts the foreign population in Iran, including 1.65 million Afghan refugees and nearly 60,000 foreign students. Ali, a Palestinian-Syrian PhD student and university teacher, said witnessing so much conflict has left him feeling numb. “It’s scary, but I feel like I am like a wall now,” he said. “This is what war can do to you.”