A month has passed since the ceasefire ended 12 days of war with Israel, but anxieties are escalating in Iran over the imminent prospect of another conflict. The brief but fierce conflict, which lasted from June 13 to 24, left deep scars on Iranians, with many considering the current peace to be the calm before the storm.
The war a month ago caused widespread damage across Iran. Israel concentrated its attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and government buildings, resulting in the deaths of prominent nuclear scientists and high-ranking military officials. Indiscriminate attacks were also launched on residential areas in Tehran and other cities, resulting in over 1,000 casualties, including at least 60 civilian deaths. Particularly in the Chamran residential complex in Tehran, many victims, including children, fell, vividly illustrating the horrors of war.
In response, Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israeli military and civilian targets, causing 29 deaths in Israel. Both sides suffered immense human and material losses in a short period, but a ceasefire was declared on June 24, leading to a temporary lull.
However, the prevailing concern is that this peace could be shattered at any moment. Peyman, a 57-year-old resident of Shiraz, expressed his anxiety, stating, "This ceasefire will not last long." Israel has warned that it could resume attacks at any time if Iran reconstructs its nuclear facilities or resumes threatening activities such as uranium enrichment. Iran denies enriching uranium for nuclear weapons production, but nuclear negotiations, mediated by the United States, remain deadlocked. Tensions were further heightened on June 22 when the United States joined Israel's offensive, bombing nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Iran has declared that it will retaliate strongly if attacked again, adding to the uncertainty.
Trauma of War and Fear for the Future
Hamid, a 54-year-old civil servant, said, "I am afraid the war will resume," adding, "more innocent people will die, and national infrastructure will be destroyed." During the last war, countless Tehran citizens had to flee to other regions to escape the bombing.
Gholandam Babaei, a 78-year-old woman living in Kermanshah Province in western Iran, lamented, "This war truly terrified me." She vividly remembers the war with Iraq, which lasted from 1980 to 1988, and said, "I just pray to God that the past does not repeat itself." The Iraq-Iran War, which began with Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iraq, left deep trauma on an entire generation. Iran has largely kept its territory safe from conflict since then, but the recent war with Israel has reawakened a deep sense of vulnerability among Iranians.
Babaei expressed despair, saying, "I don't want to run away again. I have nowhere to go. I can't escape to the mountains like in the past." Ali Khanzadi, a 62-year-old war veteran, pointed out that this conflict with Israel is different from the war with Iraq in the 1980s.
He recalled that they "did not have advanced military equipment" to fight the Iraqi army at the time. Khanzadi, who was wounded in a battle in 1983, analyzed that while this war with Israel was incomparably shorter, it had a much more ominous aspect. He emphasized that modern military technology "can kill a sleeping child using remote-controlled drones," expressing concern about the different nature of modern warfare.
Iran's Resolute Stance and Diplomatic Moves
Facing Israeli threats, Iranian authorities are emphasizing national unity. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that the attacks were an attempt to overthrow the clerical system governing the Islamic Republic and urged the military and diplomats to act "prudently and accurately."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed on Monday that Iran would continue its nuclear program, especially uranium enrichment. Iran is scheduled to discuss its nuclear program with Russia and China on Tuesday, and with France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey in Istanbul on Friday. These diplomatic moves are interpreted as demonstrating Iran's resolute will not to abandon its nuclear sovereignty despite international pressure.
International concerns about Iran's nuclear program remain high, but Iran considers it a key element of national security. Western countries suspect that Iran's uranium enrichment could lead to the development of nuclear weapons, while Iran consistently claims it is for peaceful energy purposes.
Amidst the ongoing volatile situation with Israel, a sense of national unity to overcome the crisis, along with the fear of war, is evident within Iran. However, the wounds left by the war a month ago and the uncertainty of the future cast a deep shadow over Iranians. The international community is watching to see if Iran can avoid another tragedy of war and maintain peace.
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