How Iranian civilians perceive the escalation of the conflict and the US threat: “Some think everything should be torn down and rebuilt”
As President Donald Trump threatens to dramatically escalate the war, hitting critical infrastructure and the economy, many civilians across the country say they fear they will pay the price, the Washington Post reports.
Israel hit a synagogue in Tehran PHOTO EPA-EFE
Trump told a news conference on Monday that ordinary Iranians support expanded US strikes, even as he threatened to launch devastating strikes on the country's infrastructure that would send Iran back to the Stone Age if Tehran continued to refuse to open the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran ultimatum expires tonight barring last-minute negotiations to sway Trump.
“All I can tell you is that they want freedom. They've lived in a world that you don't know. It's a violent, terrible world where if you protest, you're shot,” Trump said at a press conference on Monday. “They want us to continue bombing.”
But interviews with Iranians suggest a much more nuanced reality, with many expressing concern about an escalation of the war that would further hit Iran's struggling economy and cause civilian suffering.
A 27-year-old teacher in Tehran recounted how his initial attitude towards the conflict suddenly changed. At first, he said, he was feeling somewhat optimistic after the American and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But that sentiment faded as the attacks expanded to economic and industrial targets.
“The attitude has completely changed,” said the professor, who has since taken refuge in the city of Qom and spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “I was extremely upset and so were those around me.”
“It's not just about the regime anymore,” he added. “These targets are directly related to people's lives and the economic future of the country. This destruction breeds a much deeper sense of insecurity.”
According to a report by a consortium of human rights organizations, nearly 1,500 civilians have been killed since February 28, with strikes on dual-use civilian and military infrastructure a major factor in the rising death toll.
From the perspective of many Iranians, such targets are more than strategic assets. “The idea is that infrastructure is ultimately a national asset – one that belongs to the people, not the regime,” said a 37-year-old factory manager in Tehran.
“Even if we have serious grievances with the government, we cannot – under any circumstances – condone the destruction of infrastructure,” he said, calling such attacks “practically directed against the population itself.”
Communication with those in Iran has become increasingly difficult in the context of a near-total internet blackout imposed by the government. Many rely on VPNs or banned satellite connections to inform and communicate with the outside world.
Despite some diplomatic signals, there appears to be little progress towards de-escalating the conflict. Trump has twice delayed strikes on key infrastructure, citing the possibility of negotiations, but recent attacks suggest tensions remain high. Last week, a US strike on a suspension bridge near Tehran caused part of the structure to collapse, killing eight people, according to local authorities.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack, writing on social media: “Hitting civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not force Iranians to surrender.”
“This only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of a confused enemy. Every bridge and building will be rebuilt stronger,” he added. “What Will Never Be Recovered: The Damage to America's Prestige.”
Since the beginning of the conflict, the United States and Israel have carried out more than 15,000 airstrikes, targeting a wide range of targets, including factories, universities and medical facilities. The attacks forced civilians to seek refuge in other parts of the country and in some cases to flee the country.
“These strikes had the opposite effect of what was intended,” said a 50-year-old businessman from Sanandaj who recently crossed the border into Turkey. “Even those who wanted regime change now say they didn't want it to happen this way.”
Others described the difficulty of avoiding civilian casualties in densely populated areas. “Tehran is a complex city, where military and residential buildings are side by side,” observed a 40-year-old man at the border. “That's why civilian buildings are affected when a missile hits a military building.”
Before the war, some Iranians expressed hope that external pressure could lead to political change. A 32-year-old importer from Tehran believes that years of economic mismanagement have made many indifferent to the devastation caused by the bombings.
“For me and for many young people, the feeling is that these resources have never really been accessible to us,” he said. “Some are of the opinion that everything should be torn down and rebuilt, even if the price is high.”
But as the conflict continues, that perspective appears to be changing.
A 45-year-old actor recalled that there was a “short-lived wave of excitement” at the start of the war after learning of Khamenei's death. “But no one expected the situation to last so long, to become so long and tiring,” he said. “That initial feeling was quickly replaced by exhaustion – a profound collective exhaustion.”
After temporarily leaving Tehran, he returned to a completely different city. “They told me the destruction was extensive, but I didn't really understand what it meant until I went back,” and saw it for myself, he said. “When I came back to Tehran, I didn't recognize it,” he said, referring to the large number of buildings destroyed by the bombings.
Even in less affected areas, it described a profound change in atmosphere. “We are tired and we really don't think anything good will come of this alien attack.”
