Tensions Heighten: Tehran Residents Fear Prolonged Conflict with Israel

As violence flares in Tehran with renewed Israeli strikes, citizens who once hoped for a swift resolution now brace for a drawn-out conflict, marked by disruptions and a rising sense of despair.

As Israeli and Iranian forces exchanged renewed assaults, the initial optimism among Iranian citizens for a swift resolution to hostilities began to erode. On June 15, 2025, reports from Tehran revealed widespread fear that the violence might persist for the foreseeable future.

In conversations through voice notes and texts, residents shared their harrowing experiences living amidst the Israeli bombardment, many opting to provide only their first names due to heightened security concerns. Behzed, a 40-year-old copyright expert, described witnessing the aftermath of an Israeli missile strike on a fuel depot in Tehran from her rooftop, noting the visible glow of the explosion against the night sky. "I never imagined witnessing such a scene in my city during my lifetime," she remarked.

Ali, a 43-year-old engineer, reflected on the emotional toll these attacks have taken on him and his family. “On the first night, we thought it would be temporary, but the second night was overwhelming; we barely slept,” he conveyed. Ali and his wife have sought to shield their children from the distressing reality swirling outside, deliberating carefully on their words. As hope for resumed U.S.-Iran negotiations dwindled after the cancellation of talks in Oman, his feelings of despair deepened.

Arash, a 42-year-old psychologist, echoed these sentiments, articulating the sense of denial still present among many others in Tehran. “Many people hope the crisis will end soon, but the atmosphere is gradually shifting,” he cautioned. He acknowledged that this cycle of violence felt distinctly different from previous skirmishes, which typically consisted of a single strike followed by a period of quiet.

Furthermore, internet access restrictions were reported, exacerbating uncertainty among residents desperate for updates on the situation. Sepideh, a local teacher, voiced her frustration with the Iranian leadership, correlating the current crisis to past economic struggles and systemic issues. Some citizens have paradoxically celebrated the Israeli attacks as a potential pathway to freedom, despite the national costs, echoing sentiments from past conflicts in Iranian history.

The atmosphere in Tehran remains tense and uncertain as residents confront the dreadful reality of ongoing aggression.