War plunges Iranians into fear and uncertainty

"In the first few days, I told my daughter that the noises were from the Chaharshanbe Suri festival (in Iran, the night of the last Wednesday of winter is celebrated with fireworks), but now she has nightmares every night, explains a worried Simin, a resident of Tehran. Elnaz [her daughter] is under a lot of stress; the slightest noise makes our hearts sink."

"Our joy lasted only that night when we learned that Khamenei was dead; after that, little by little, the worries began. He is referring primarily to the daily hardships faced by the population. For many people, the problem now is obtaining basic food items at high prices, the long lines to buy bread, and the constant uncertainty about which place was bombed last night and which will be attacked tonight."

"During the Iran-Iraq War, sirens would wail before the bombings. I would take my children by the hand and go down to the basement, and then the siren would sound, indicating that the danger had passed, recalls Shirin, a retired teacher living in the capital. But now it's very strange. We understand there's been an attack because of the sound of the explosions, and then the neighbors take the elevator up to the roof to see where it's landed."

Nearly two weeks into the war, Iranian citizens express deep anguish and unease about their circumstances. Children suffer from nightmares triggered by explosion sounds, while adults struggle with unemployment, inflated food prices, and long bread lines. Initial relief following a significant political death quickly faded as citizens confronted the reality of prolonged conflict without clear resolution. The psychological toll manifests differently across generations—some recall structured civil defense procedures from previous wars, while current residents face unpredictable attacks and chaotic responses. Despite hardships, some citizens maintain hope for regime change, though many question their capacity to endure extended warfare and its cascading effects on daily life and mental health.

Read at english.elpais.com