Tehran Residents Describe Fear and Isolation Amid Unrelenting US-Israeli Bombardment
Residents of Tehran have spoken to The Associated Press about escalating fear and profound isolation as bombs continue to strike Iran's capital without warning. An engineer was forced to crouch under a park bench as fighter jets roared overhead, while an athlete described being wracked by anxiety and unable to sleep due to constant explosions. With internet access largely severed since the first strikes on February 28, families and friends are now relying on each other for fragmented news about the war and the latest damage from airstrikes.
State of Shock Across the Capital
The fierce U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Tehran, now entering its third week, has left residents in a state of shock. From central historic quarters to upscale northern districts, bombs shake the city day and night, with no sirens or public warning systems to offer alert. "The psychological pressure is real," said the athlete, who lives in a northern area of the capital. He was among half a dozen Tehran residents who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity, citing fears for their safety.
Widely respected national symbols have not been spared. The monumental archway of Azadi Square, often viewed as the capital's modern emblem, was enveloped by smoke after nearby strikes, while the 19th-century Golestan Palace, a landmark of historic pride, had its windows blasted out. Concurrently, security forces have intensified their street presence to prevent any displays of dissent.
Profound Impact on Daily Life and Health
Israeli strikes on Tehran's oil depots last weekend had a particularly deep psychological impact. After the blasts, giant fires raged, and toxic, black smoke filled the air—only partially eased by subsequent rains. "I could barely breathe and had to go buy an inhaler," said a 54-year-old Tehran resident and human-rights activist. "People are worried it will affect their drinking water." As she spoke to AP, a blast echoed in the background.
In a later voice note, the activist described a dire situation: "Last night the situation was really bad. Fighters as well as drones had taken over the whole sky. East, west, they hit everywhere they could. Today you see a lot of residential places that were damaged. It's really painful." The war is fraying nerves across the region, as Iran retaliates with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel, U.S. military bases, and Persian Gulf neighbors.
Information Blackout and Urban Desolation
A 33-year-old engineer depicted the aftermath of the oil depot strikes as an "end-of-times scene." He explained that Iranians are struggling to follow war news due to the near-total internet shutdown. Only a small fraction of the public has limited access via virtual private networks. The engineer said he now phones friends for updates on where bombs are landing, while other residents trade reports at anxious gatherings in homes and cafes.
Almost total Israeli and U.S. air superiority has left the capital exposed to attack at any moment. The engineer recounted being on his street when he heard fighter jets, followed by a nearby strike, prompting him to duck under a park bench. A university student noted that fear is rising even among those not living near clearly marked government and military targets. "Every moment, without any warning sirens or announcement, some part of the city is under attack," he said, describing streets littered with broken glass from surrounding buildings.
Eerie Quiet and Domestic Strain
Normally a vibrant metropolis of over 9 million people, Tehran's streets—in between airstrikes—are now eerily quiet. While many shops and supermarkets remain open, the traditional bazaar is closed, and numerous streets stand empty as people hunker down at home. Families tape windows to prevent flying glass and shelter in interior rooms upon hearing the roar of strikes.
A teacher living in the northern Tehran district of Vanak shared that a friend's home in eastern Tehran was damaged by a nearby strike, which blew out windows, broke the sink, and wrenched the garage door out of place. "I was in a very bad shock," the teacher said upon receiving the news. She spends most of her time at home, hosting family members who fled another part of Tehran due to proximity to Basij positions—the feared all-volunteer wing of the Revolutionary Guard. She paces constantly and devotes much effort to trying to access the internet.
"I try to keep myself calm and tell myself, 'This is the price we have to pay for getting rid of the Islamic Republic,'" she said. U.S.-Israeli strikes have heavily targeted positions of the Guard, Basij, and police forces, the main enforcers of the Islamic Republic that suppressed protests earlier this year, resulting in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests.
Security Crackdown and Political Shifts
This week, strikes shifted to roadblocks and checkpoints set up by the Basij, with at least 18 hit on Wednesday, mostly in Tehran, according to the U.S.-based monitoring group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. On Friday, a large explosion struck a main Tehran square as government supporters held a large demonstration there. Authorities appear to have maintained their grip thus far, with residents noting a heightened presence of security forces and Basij on the streets.
One resident sent AP video of a procession of Basij on motorcycles and cars waving flags in her northern Tehran neighborhood, while mosques blared pro-government slogans. On state TV Monday night, Ahmad-Reza Radan, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Republic's security forces, warned that anyone taking to the streets in protest would be seen "as enemies, and we will deal with them as we would with the enemy. All our guys are ready to fire."
The government has encouraged supporters to gather in street demonstrations, especially following the announcement of the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. He succeeds his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by Israel's opening strikes in the war. The younger Khamenei's selection is widely viewed as a sign that hard-liners are tightening their grip on power. He issued his first statement Thursday but has not appeared publicly.
Widespread Damage and Moral Dilemmas
As the war rages, many Iranians are still reeling from the crackdown after massive anti-government protests in January. A 27-year-old nurse reported that the surgery unit where she works in a Tehran hospital continues to treat protesters with serious wounds. She described the U.S. and Israeli targeting of Iran's leadership and security forces as "revenge" for the killings of protesters and expressed satisfaction at seeing security forces hit.
However, the extensive damage from the air campaign worries some who desire the fall of the Islamic Republic. "It's no longer about weakening the government. It's gone toward weakening the people of Iran," said the activist, who has been imprisoned in the past. "Do you really want to turn us into a scorched country, something the Islamic Republic couldn't do itself?" The Iranian Red Crescent reports that thousands of civilian sites have been damaged, including hospitals, schools, universities, and homes, though Iran has not updated its death toll from the over 1,200 previously reported.
