Iranians trying to keep life normal after weeks of US and Israeli bombing and a deadly government crackdown in January remain anxious about the future as airstrikes and internet blackouts take a heavy toll.
Shops, restaurants and government offices have largely stayed open while talks were expected on extending a truce and agreeing an end to the conflict. Parks and cafes are busy on sunny mornings and city streets show everyday activity. But behind those scenes, Iran’s economy is strained, infrastructure has been damaged, and many fear a renewed domestic clampdown even as anger grows over the destruction caused by the bombing.
Foreign Minister statements that the Strait of Hormuz was open after a ceasefire accord for Lebanon, and US President Donald Trump saying he expected a deal to end the Iran war soon, have not eased people’s concerns about what comes next.
“The war will end, but that’s when our real problems with the system begin. I’m very afraid that if the regime reaches an agreement with the United States, it will increase pressure on ordinary people,” said Fariba, 37, who took part in the January unrest. She warned the system has not forgotten that many people oppose it and said authorities are holding back now to avoid domestic conflict while military pressure continues.
Official death tolls say thousands were killed in the bombing, including many in a school strike on the first day of the conflict. Widespread destruction raises the prospect of mass layoffs, compounding economic hardship already worsened by years of sanctions and isolation.
Analysts say Iran’s revolutionary theocracy appears entrenched after surviving intensive bombardment and asserting control over global oil routes. “Iranians understood that this war is not going to topple the regime, but at the same time, it’s going to make their lives much worse economically,” said Omid Memarian of the US-based Dawn think tank. He added the military is likely to remain active and the conflict’s human and economic costs will be high with little prospect of immediate improvement.
In north Tehran, Reuters filmed and spoke to young Iranians who showed a range of reactions. Mehtab, who works at a private company, said that given Iran’s recent history the situation could be worse and that people can “live with it,” though others contacted anonymously by phone expressed much greater anxiety for fear of reprisals. “Yes, people are enjoying the ceasefire for now — but what comes next? What are we supposed to do with a regime that has become even more powerful?” asked Sara, 27, a private teacher.
Thousands were killed when authorities crushed weeks of protests in January, prompting earlier US promises of support. While some foreign leaders initially suggested the conflict might topple Iran’s clerical rulers, that expectation faded as bombing continued and the regime proved durable. Many Iranians who had hoped the war would help their cause grew disillusioned, seeing the fighting as not designed to aid ordinary people, Memarian said.
Public behaviors have shifted in small ways: some women in north Tehran were not wearing the hijab — a change that traces back to the mass 2022 protests over women’s rights, which authorities violently suppressed while easing enforcement of some dress rules. But analysts say January made clear the authorities would not easily yield again, and the war showed they would not collapse under external military pressure.
“It’s a moment of reckoning for Iranians because at the end of the day Iranians, especially Iranians inside the country, realise that they need to live together. There is nowhere to go,” said Hossein Rassam, a UK-based analyst.
Many fear repression could intensify once an external threat fades. “On the streets, women are going around without the hijab, but it’s unclear whether these kind of freedoms will continue after a deal with the United States. Pressure will 100% increase, because once there is peace with Washington, the regime will no longer face the same external pressure,” said Arjang, 43, a father of two in north Tehran.
Internet shutdowns during the protests and wartime severely restricted communications, hurting businesses and leaving ordinary people unable to connect with loved ones abroad. “Even the smallest things like connecting with our family members who live outside the country is impossible,” said Faezeh, 47, playing volleyball in a park.
Analysts warn popular frustration could resurface more openly after the war ends, when people may feel less vulnerable to accusations of being traitors. “There is a lot of fire under the ashes,” Memarian said, pointing to a volatile mix of unresolved grievances, economic hardship and political repression that could shape Iran’s future once external conflict recedes.
