TEHRAN— Long lines
snake through petrol stations and bakeries. Families pack cars with whatever
they can carry, desperate to escape the capital. Nights are spent in terror,
waiting for the next explosion.
Since Israel’s sudden strikes on
Iran began early Friday, Tehran’s streets have transformed into scenes of fear
and chaos. Residents—many still in shock—describe a city on edge, torn between
defiance and despair.
"I Don’t Want My Tehran to Become Gaza"
Donya, a 21-year-old music
student, refuses to leave despite the danger. "My father says it’s more
honorable to die in your home than to run," she told the BBC over an
encrypted app. But her fear is palpable. "I don’t want my beautiful Tehran
to turn into Gaza."
Like many Iranians, she is caught
between hatred for the regime and horror at Israel’s devastating strikes.
"We don’t want Israel to save us," she says. "No foreign country
ever cared for Iran. But we also don’t want the Islamic Republic."
From Celebration to Sorrow
One woman, speaking anonymously,
admitted feeling a "strange excitement" when Israeli strikes hit
high-ranking Iranian officials—men she once thought untouchable. "That
illusion of power shattered," she said.
But her relief turned to grief
when news broke of civilian deaths. "People like me—ordinary,
defenseless—were dying too." When Israel struck the South Pars gas field,
her sorrow turned to rage. "They want to turn Iran into ruins."
For the first time in her life, she is preparing for death.
No Shelters, No Warning
Unlike Israel, Iran has no air
raid sirens or bomb shelters. Missiles strike without warning. Car
bombs—reported by both Israeli and Iranian media—have sown further panic.
The Iranian government advises
citizens to hide in mosques and metro stations. But with explosions hitting
unpredictably, many feel helpless. "Every neighborhood has been
affected," one woman told BBC Persian. "We call loved ones hourly just
to know they’re alive."
Divided Loyalties, Deep Distrust
The strikes have split Iranian society. Some cheer the
regime’s losses; others condemn Israel. Many swing between emotions.
"It’s like the Titanic," one woman said.
"Some flee, some deny the danger, others keep dancing." A lifelong
regime opponent, she now sees Israel’s assault as "inexcusable."
"Freedom doesn’t come from bombs on civilians,"
she said. "Most of us are just scared of what’s next."
With state media downplaying casualties, many rely on
word-of-mouth. "The supreme leader lives, while Iranians flee for their
lives," Khatibi-Hill said. "No one wants Iran to become another
Syria."
Israel claims Iran hides military sites in civilian areas,
justifying strikes. But for ordinary Iranians, survival is the only priority.
As Donya takes pills to sleep through the explosions, one
question haunts Tehran: How much worse will this get?