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‘Don’t Let Beautiful Tehran Become Gaza’: Iranians React to Israel’s Strikes with Shock and Fear
Published: June 17, 2025
Byline: Caroline Hawley, Diplomatic Correspondent
Tehran has been plunged into panic, fear, and heartbreak after a series of surprise Israeli airstrikes rocked Iran’s capital city over the weekend. The attacks — launched in retaliation for Iranian missile strikes on Israeli territory — have left residents grappling with sleepless nights, disrupted lives, and a rising civilian death toll.
With smoke plumes rising over the city and long queues forming at bakeries, petrol pumps, and highways, the Iranian capital appears to be teetering under the weight of fear and confusion.
Voices from Tehran: Fear, Anger, and Helplessness
"Everyone is leaving, but I’m not. My dad says it’s more honourable to die in your own house than to run away," said 21-year-old Donya, a music student speaking via encrypted messaging. She asked not to use her real name due to safety concerns.
Donya, like many Iranians, is caught between loathing for the Islamic Republic and fear of Israeli firepower, especially after witnessing the destruction in Gaza.
“I don’t want my beautiful Tehran to turn into Gaza,” she said.
Others expressed a chilling mix of disbelief and despair. One woman described a “strange excitement” when powerful military officials were killed, but said that feeling quickly gave way to sorrow and terror once civilian deaths began to surface.
“Suddenly that image of power was shattered,” she told BBC Persian.
“When I heard that regular people — people like me — had also died, it broke me.”
Civilian Toll and Destruction Mounts
According to Iranian authorities, more than 220 people, including women and children, have been killed since Friday. In contrast, Israeli sources report at least 24 Israeli fatalities in the same period due to Iranian missiles.
Missiles are not the only threat. Reports of car bombings in Tehran, confirmed by both Iranian and Israeli media, have further deepened the sense of chaos. With no air raid sirens or shelters, many residents are forced to face attacks without warning or protection.
Some residents have sought shelter in mosques and metro stations, but even these have offered little peace of mind.
“Every neighbourhood has been somehow affected,” said a young woman now staying in an area away from known government buildings. “We check the news every hour and call friends to see if they’re still alive.”
‘Nowhere Feels Safe’: Growing Distrust in Regime
Even regime loyalists are reportedly shaken by the exposure of Iran’s air defences, once touted as among the region’s best.
With university exams postponed and city infrastructure strained, young Iranians like Donya have opted to stay home, heavily reliant on medication to sleep through tense nights.
“I’m terrified at night,” she admitted. “We’ve packed emergency bags with food, water, and first aid, just in case.”
Mixed Reactions: Resistance to Both the Regime and Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for Iranians to rise up against their clerical rulers has been met with mixed, often hostile, reactions.
“We don’t want Israel to save us. No foreign country ever cared for Iran,” Donya said firmly. “We also don’t want the Islamic Republic.”
Many Iranians remain deeply divided, not only about the regime but also about the morality of cheering Israeli strikes, even if they target oppressive leaders.
“Most of us are scared. Some are happy to see regime officials gone. But we all know — Israeli bombs won’t bring us freedom,” said another woman.
“This is a humanitarian crisis.”
International Concern: Iran’s Diaspora Watches in Dismay
For members of Iran’s global diaspora, the events unfolding back home are painful and personal.
“It’s hard to convey what it’s like to be Iranian right now,” said Dorreh Khatibi-Hill, a women’s rights activist based in Leeds. “You’re relieved to see those who hurt your people fall. But you’re horrified at the price civilians are paying.”
She stressed that the Iranian public lacks accurate information, and the top leadership remains largely untouched.
“No one wants Iran to become another Syria or Iraq,” she said. “None of us want this war — and none of us want the regime either.”
Looking Ahead: A Nation in Crisis
With the situation rapidly evolving, Iranians find themselves navigating a precarious and unprecedented chapter in the country's modern history. For now, daily life is marked by uncertainty, fear, and the sobering realization that neither regime oppression nor foreign bombs offer a path to peace or freedom.
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