Fear and shock in Iran: ‘I’m constantly afraid a missile might hit my home’ | Iran

The greatest impact of this war is fear and anxiety. We don’t know if this will last weeks, months or even years. Our lives are routine, I spend most of my time reading the news. I’m constantly afraid that a missile can hit my house, my city or my relatives and my friends’ homes elsewhere.

I get news from X and Instagram because we don’t have reliable news networks and publications that are not censored by the regime. We follow updates through videos shared by people from different parts of the country on social media. The internet in Iran slowly slowed down and fell completely yesterday [Wednesday].

My workplace is in Tehran. Two days after the attacks started, I left the city on Saturday. My home is in the east of the city, in the Tehranpars region, which was repeatedly shot by missiles.

It was very difficult [to get out] Since gasoline was rationalized – only 25 liters is allowed to each person – and we had to beg and begged to get more fuel at each gas station.

We had to go south from Natanz. Natanz nuclear facilities are bombed and we do not know if there is a risk of radiation. The government does not tell us that.

It became even more difficult to leave Tehran on Saturday. There is heavy traffic on roads outside the city and the road to QOM, one of the main ways, was bombed.

I left car with my friends. No more bus, train or flight on these routes, and if someone doesn’t have a car, they can’t leave.

Most of my friends and colleagues could not leave Tehran. Some have pets, some do not have a car, and many have no money or place to stay in other cities. One of my friends’ mothers is very old and cannot be moved. Another friend cannot leave a nurse and his job.

If everyone has to leave the capital, the whole country will stop. Banks, government offices and almost everything depends on Tehran.

Now I’m in Kerman, my family. Fortunately, we have not bombed it until now. Kerman is currently safe, but there are military facilities and ammunition warehouses here, and such areas are bombed in other cities around the country.

Inflation has increased rapidly. The price of all foodstuffs was shockedly doubled, even doubled, and it has not been a full week since the war began.

Many food products are no longer as easy as before – for example, fruit brought from other provinces – for example, because no truck driver is willing to travel on intercity roads. The price of rice, chicken, meat and fruit has doubled.

Dairy products increased by 20%, but all these products are still less varied than before. But I know that the situation in Tehran is much worse.

Due to the closing of business, we have a high chance of getting our salaries. My next fear is that it does not have high life costs and enough money.

I work in a company [works internationally]. We did not completely close, but in practice we cannot operate anymore because all the embassies that process visas were closed. If these conditions continue, our company will be completely closed and I will lose my job.

Our situation in Iran is very complex. Many people oppose the regime. We have been trying to change this government for years, but the government arrested, suppresses and runs us.

At the same time, we certainly don’t want war. War kills civilians, destroys our infrastructure, causes poverty and inflation and puts back the country.

But now this war – against the will of the Iranian people – destroys our lives, at least we hope it will lead to a regime change.

My biggest fear? If the war continues, more civilians will be killed, more infrastructure will be destroyed, and the government will still not change. This would be the worst result.