Voices from Iran after US strikes

[ad_1] Taraneh Fathalian BBC Persian

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ea6a/live/d307eb60-4f8d-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA Iranians shout slogans during an anti-US and anti-Israel demonstration in Tehran, Iran (22 June 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA Iranians attended a protest towards the Israeli and US strikes in Tehran on Sunday

"My days and nights are the identical. I really feel paralysed. I simply stare on the ceiling all day and all evening."

"I maintain questioning what's going to occur subsequent, and we're continuously caught abruptly."

Shahla - whose identify we have now modified for her safety - is among the many Iranians who've contacted BBC Persian to specific their concern and anger after the US bombed three of their nation's key nuclear websites in a single day.

US President Donald Trump mentioned the Isfahan, Natanz and Fordo amenities had been "obliterated" and informed Iran's leaders that they now had a selection of "peace or tragedy".

However Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned the US had crossed "a giant pink line" and warned that it could have "eternal penalties".

The strikes occurred simply over per week after Israel launched a large-scale air marketing campaign towards Iran, saying it aimed to take away what it referred to as the existential threats of the nation's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Iran's well being ministry says not less than 430 individuals have been killed thus far, though one human rights group has put the demise toll at double that.

Iran has responded by launching missiles at Israeli cities, killing 24 individuals, in accordance with Israeli authorities.

Iran's authorities has severely restricted entry to the web over the previous week, limiting the circulation of details about what is occurring on the bottom and making it more durable for households to speak.

Mehri - additionally not her actual identify – was however capable of ship BBC Persian an audio message saying how the US strikes had left her upset and indignant.

"I do not assume I've ever felt this degree of sorrow and rage over something in my life," she mentioned. "However in a approach, it additionally offers me an odd sense of readability - it jogs my memory that I am related to one thing past myself."

"This struggle - Iran's struggle - is actually a battle between three people. Three leaders, from three nations, pushed by their very own ideologies," she added, apparently referring to Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran's Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"I get livid after I hear them point out names like Isfahan or instantly declare: 'We have taken management of Iran's skies.' These are usually not simply phrases to me - they're sacred."

Homayoun, a person from the north-western area of Maku, was defiant within the face of Trump's warning that Iran would face extra assaults if it didn't comply with peace.

"Sure, we're going via powerful occasions - however we'll stand by our nation to the very finish. And if wanted, we'll give our lives for our homeland, for our honour," he mentioned. "We can't let America and its lackeys make any unsuitable strikes in our nation."

Trump warned Iran on Saturday that any retaliation towards the US "can be met with drive far higher than what was witnessed tonight".

However at a information convention in Turkey on Sunday, Araghchi declared that Iran reserved "all choices to defend its safety, pursuits and other people". He additionally mentioned the US bore "full accountability for the implications of its actions".

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) described US bases within the Center East as "vulnerabilities, not strengths".

Earlier than Israel launched its air marketing campaign, Iran's defence minister had threatened to focus on all US bases "inside our attain" if the US participated in any strikes on its nuclear programme.

Some hardliners additionally referred to as for US Navy vessels within the Gulf to be focused and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of many world's most vital delivery routes.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/272f/live/1ffd8d40-4f6f-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA Traffic passes a billboard showing various Iranians including military personnel and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (3rd right) saluting and a message reading, "We all are soldiers of Iran", at Vali Asr square in Tehran, Iran (22 June 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA Iran's authorities has restricted web entry, limiting the circulation of knowledge from the nation

One other Iranian man informed BBC Persian that he hoped this was "the height of the struggle's escalation - and from right here, issues will begin to de-escalate".

"Iran is rational sufficient to know that any response focusing on the US can be full suicide," he mentioned.

"My youngster can be born in a number of days, and I hope their beginning coincides with the beginning of a brand new Iran - one which adopts a recent strategy towards each the worldwide system and its home affairs."

"And I hope they develop up figuring out that surveillance cameras and safety forces needs to be centered on actual threats, not on implementing the hijab," he added, referring to Iran's strict legal guidelines requiring ladies to put on headscarves which led to mass anti-government protests and a lethal crackdown in 2022.

One other particular person was important of the price of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"Fordo and Natanz, and the Iranian nuclear programme typically, had been the tears of my eyes and the blood of your hearts. They lower the nation's throats for years, and so they elevated the nuclear finances to construct these amenities," they wrote.

Farhad - not his actual identify - mentioned: "I am not pleased about what occurred, however the Islamic Republic's previous strategy was not bearable. I hope an excellent future awaits Iran."

At a crossing on Iran's border with Armenia, one younger lady who had fled Tehran along with her household in the meantime informed the BBC she didn't assist regime change imposed by international powers in Iran.

"We had been making an attempt to make adjustments ourselves inside, and I do not assume a change coming from US or Israel can be an excellent change," she mentioned.