Tehran, Iran – Once more, the roads leading to Tehran are jam-packed with people packing suitcases, suitcases, and cautious optimism that their homes might be safe. A ceasefire announced on Monday has begun attracting residents back to the city, which has been plagued by Israeli air strikes for more than 600 Iranians and left hundreds of thousands of people in the capital.
The relief of sleeping in their own beds is tempered by the constant concern that the bombing could resume at any time for many Tehran residents.
Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer who spent nearly two weeks living with her husband at their relatives’ home in Zanjan, which is located about 286 kilometers (177 miles) northwest of the capital, said, “Coming back home after all these days, even from a place where you had physical safety feels like heaven.” She continued, “But I’m not sure if the ceasefire will last.”
Israel launched what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities at dawn on June 13 that changed millions of lives. The two regional powers engaged in unprecedented firefights that for the first time in decades and directly impacted Tehran.
Many residents, frightened of their lives, were forced to flee the capital for the relative safety of other cities and villages as Israeli attacks on residential areas increased and warnings from American and Israeli officials to evacuate Tehran grew louder.
Many of Tehran’s residents felt the need to give up their lives.
Before the war, Saba, a 26-year-old university student, said, “I had an incredibly busy life. I managed all of my household chores while living in Tehran, working full-time, and studying, all while living alone. I was in shock when the war broke out, for a few days, and I couldn’t believe it was coming to an end. I continued to work, go shopping, or visit a cafe. However, you eventually realized that reality no longer existed. The world was coming to an end.
By the fifth day, she was forced to leave.
“First, my university exams were postponed, then my employer told us to work remotely, and then all of my friends left Tehran,” I thought. She recalled that she felt terrible loneliness. I kept myself busy during the day, but when the sounds of bombing and air defenses started to appear at night, I was unable to fool myself.
Her father drove her to the family’s home in northeastern Iran, where she spent the rest of the day staying there until the ceasefire, leaving her hometown of Quchan, a city close to Mashhad.
The nights “were intolerable.”
At least 610 people died and 1,481 were injured in the conflict, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, with more than 90% of the casualties being civilians.
In response to security concerns, businessman and CEO of a private company in Tehran, Kamran, who requested anonymity, said, “Initially, I had decided to stay in Tehran and keep the company running.” Life was manageable during the day, despite the bombing and the sound of air defense. The father of two, however, described the nights as “absolutely intolerable.”
In the first days of the war, many people fled the city. Two significant issues weighed on their departure at the time: lengthy line-ups at gas stations, heavy traffic, and long line-ups at gas stations, which made it difficult to get to the destination safely.
Many people who had left Tehran have now begun to make their way back after the ceasefire was declared.
Coming back to my own home after 11 days of living in a place without any signs of war, which had no privacy or peace of mind, was like heaven, Nika said.
She said, “It was incredibly challenging to live with 11 other people in an environment that was never quiet, despite years of being accustomed to the silence of my own home.” When the ceasefire was declared, she immediately moved into her Tehran two-bedroom apartment.
Nika acknowledged, “I don’t know whether the ceasefire will last or not. I don’t believe I want to leave my house once more, though, even if it doesn’t.”
Uncertainty in the future
Not everyone had the good fortune to buy a home again.
While he was sheltered with his family in a nearby town, Iranian musician Keyvan Saket learned that an Israeli missile had struck his home. However, his neighbor’s call to deliver the depressing news did not prevent him from returning after the ceasefire was established.
One of the bombs dropped at Saket’s house, according to Saket, causing no more destruction. However, because of safety concerns, it forbade him and his family from entering their home. We encountered an unsettling scene once the issue was resolved and we were permitted inside, he said. The building’s facade was destroyed, the windows and doors were severely damaged, and there were also serious injuries to the refrigerator and washing machine. Even the building’s iron doors were mangled because of the intense attack.
As he contemplated the impact of the conflict, Saket’s voice lacked a strong sense of sorrow. He lamented the loss of a home he cherished, “With every fiber of my being, I despise war and those who ignite it.” The ugliest of all human creations is war, according to the saying.
Both sides have accused one another of violating the ceasefire, and there is a high risk of new violence. Israel claims to have intercepted Iranian missiles after the ceasefire, while Iran has reported continuing Israeli attacks for several hours following the agreement. Israeli forces attacked targets in Tehran, including the notorious Evin Prison, and Iranian missiles attacked areas in Israel right after the ceasefire announcement was announced, and strikes continued on both sides.
A student majoring in political science, Hamed, considers the situation to be fragile. He said, “This feels like a recurring nightmare to me.” On the day the ceasefire was announced, he had already left the southeast of Iran and was concerned about having to flee his hometown and life for good. “I really don’t want to pack my things up and leave my house before I can come back,” he said.
Tehran’s streets are clearly busier than they were before the ceasefire, despite this underlying anxiety. There is evidence of a cautious, determined return to life in the capital as businesses end their remote work policies and retrain employees.
Attacks targeted several provinces, including Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, Kermanshah, and the capital itself, causing significant damage to Tehran’s infrastructure. During the 12-day conflict, Israel claimed to have struck more than 100 targets all over Iran.
Tehran’s wide boulevards are once more swayed by traffic in the early mornings. With a bright smile and a cautious optimism, Saba smiled and said, “Seeing others return to the city alongside me, watching cafes and restaurants reopen, and feeling life flow back into the streets… it truly lifts my heart.” The threat of an uncertain ceasefire looms as the city recovers, a quiet reminder that this fragile revival could be put to the test at any time.
Source: Aljazeera
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