"My days and nights are the same. I feel paralysed. I just stare at the ceiling all day and all night." "I keep wondering what will happen next, and we are constantly caught by surprise." Shahla - whose name we have changed for her protection - is among the Iranians who have contacted BBC Persian to express their fear and anger after the US bombed three of their country's key nuclear sites overnight. US President Donald Trump said the Isfahan, Natanz and Fordo facilities were "obliterated" and told Iran's leaders that they now had a choice of "peace or tragedy". But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had crossed "a big red line" and warned that it would have "everlasting consequences". The strikes happened just over a week after Israel launched a large-scale air campaign against Iran, saying it aimed to remove what it called the existential threats of the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Iran's health ministry says at least 430 people have been killed so far, although one human rights group has put the death toll at double that. Iran has responded by launching missiles at Israeli cities, killing 24 people and injuring 1,270, according to Israeli authorities. "I'm extremely angry and upset about what's happened. I don't think I've ever felt this level of sorrow and rage over anything in my life," Mehri - also not her real name - told BBC Persian in an audio message following the US strikes. "But in a way, it also gives me a strange sense of clarity - it reminds me that I'm connected to something beyond myself." "This war - Iran's war - is essentially a conflict between three individuals. Three leaders, from three countries, driven by their own ideologies," she added, apparently referring to Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "I get furious when I hear them mention names like Isfahan or suddenly declare: 'We've taken control of Iran's skies.' These are not just words to me - they're sacred." Homayoun, a man from the north-western region of Maku, was defiant in the face of Trump's warning that Iran would face more attacks if it did not agree to peace. "Yes, we're going through tough times - but we'll stand by our country to the very end. And if needed, we'll give our lives for our homeland, for our honour," he said. "We won't let America and its lackeys make any wrong moves in our country." Trump warned Iran on Saturday that any retaliation against the US "will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight". At a news conference in Turkey on Sunday, Araghchi declared that Iran reserved "all options to defend its security, interests and people". He also said the US bore "full responsibility for the consequences of its actions". Before Israel launched its air campaign, Iran had threatened to attack US bases in the Middle East if it participated in any strikes on its nuclear programme. Another Iranian man told BBC Persian that he hoped this was "the peak of the war's escalation - and from here, things will start to de-escalate". "Iran is rational enough to know that any response targeting the US would be complete suicide," he said. "My child will be born in a few days, and I hope their birth coincides with the birth of a new Iran - one that adopts a fresh approach toward both the international system and its domestic affairs." "And I hope they grow up knowing that surveillance cameras and security forces should be focused on real threats, not on enforcing the hijab," he added, referring to Iran's strict laws requiring women to wear headscarves which led to mass anti-government protests and a deadly crackdown in 2022. Farhad - not his real name - said: "I'm not happy about what happened, but the Islamic Republic's past approach was not bearable. I hope a good future awaits Iran."
'Paralysed and constantly caught by surprise': Voices from Iran after US strikes
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Iranians Express Fear and Defiance Following US Strikes on Nuclear Sites"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
In the wake of recent US airstrikes on Iran's critical nuclear facilities, many Iranians are expressing their feelings of fear, anger, and uncertainty about the future. Shahla, a concerned citizen who reached out to BBC Persian, described her sense of paralysis and constant worry about what might come next. The US President, Donald Trump, claimed that the strikes had 'obliterated' key sites in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordo, presenting Iran's leaders with a stark choice between 'peace or tragedy.' In contrast, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attacks, asserting that the US had crossed a significant threshold that would lead to serious and lasting repercussions. These strikes occurred shortly after Israel's air campaign against Iran, which was aimed at neutralizing perceived threats posed by Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Reports indicate that the conflict has resulted in substantial casualties, with Iranian sources stating that at least 430 people have died, while human rights groups estimate the toll could be double that number. In retaliation, Iran has launched missiles targeting Israeli cities, resulting in deaths and injuries among the Israeli population.
Amid this escalating conflict, various voices from Iran reflect a mix of defiance and despair. Mehri, another citizen who spoke to BBC Persian, articulated her deep sorrow and rage, while also recognizing a sense of connection to a broader struggle. She suggested that the conflict is driven by the personal ideologies of three leaders: Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei. As tensions rise, some Iranians express a determination to stand by their country, with one man from Maku declaring a willingness to sacrifice for their homeland. Others hope for a de-escalation of conflict, acknowledging that any direct retaliation against the US would be disastrous. As new life approaches in his family, one man optimistically anticipates a future for Iran that embraces a different international stance and addresses pressing domestic issues, such as personal freedoms. This sentiment of hope for change amidst turmoil underscores the complex emotions felt by many Iranians as they navigate the consequences of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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