Iran conflict, USA News: Four Iranians, risking their lives to speak out, have described to GB News the mental torture of being trapped in the war-torn, evil Islamic regime. Day-to-day life was always oppressive before the devastating war that broke out in February. Cities and military sites were blitzed by joint US/Israeli strikes across Iran, ordered by Donald Trump, with the aim of deposing the country’s despotic rulers and destroying their nuclear threat. After weeks of relentless attacks and thousands of deaths, an uneasy ceasefire began. But as they wait to see if the President presses the attack button once again, things are going from bad to worse. And as depression and hopelessness spread, they believe Britain is too scared to help over fears of attacks and assassinations here.
The identities of the four, all opposed to the current rulers, have been withheld for their safety. Their testimonies, given in defiance of the brutal authorities in Tehran, describe a country at breaking point. And the picture all four paint is eerily similar when it comes to the question of the mood on the streets. The feeling of the Iranian people right now is waiting, said one man, a shop owner, and this waiting causes depression. Iranian society is very sad at the moment. Another source was much more blunt. Everyone is hopeless and depressed, he said. Asked whether he felt secure about the near future, his reply was just brief and to the point: I have no sense of security at all.
Defiance and Economic Despair
There is some defiance under the fear, and the hope of one day flooding the streets to celebrate the end of the Islamic Republic is strong. The people of Iran are worried, one said, but they are firmly certain that this government will fall. They are waiting for a good opportunity to come out into the streets. Another was cautiously optimistic. He said both he, his family and friends were waiting to see what the future holds. Whatever others may think, my view is that the world will come to the conclusion that it has to open channels of communication with Iran. Once the world’s doors open to us, we’ll have a good life.
Day-to-day life is not getting easier, and if consumers in the UK think they are struggling with ever-increasing prices, it is nothing compared to what Iranians face. One man put inflation at over 300 per cent, an unverifiable figure but one that reflects what faces them in the shops as they try to live their lives. He described considering buying a car, something that he soon forgot all about when he saw the soaring cost: The price of the Peugeot 207 rose 15 per cent in a single day. You may not believe it, but life here is truly hell. Running shops fairly and honourably has become difficult. The shopkeeper said he sees despair in the eyes of his customers. Life has become very difficult, he said. For 60 to 70 per cent of people, it’s only about getting food and essential necessities. I have a shop myself, and I see how people’s purchasing power has dropped.
Social Breakdown and International Views
As society and community fractures, and the government loses control, some unscrupulous people are taking advantage. One person said: As things get worse, even though everyone tries to adapt, the structure of society is breaking down. Corruption is spreading, and theft and fraud are increasing. Some are quietly cashing in, with one source adding: Merchants and shopkeepers: while everyone complains about high prices, some are making large profits from these very price hikes. Now that the government has no oversight of prices at all, they’re profiting the most.
The striking feeling from all four of those brave enough to speak was that the near future was not going to get any better. One predicted that a major war was imminent as they watch political manoeuvrings in Israel and the US. The only thing holding it back is the elections in America and Israel, he said. Everyone is waiting. As they wait for rescue, they also wait to see where the next meal is coming from. Most people are thinking about food, one said, and I’m sure that if war happens, famine will come and many people may be harmed. Another one of the four was equally downbeat. It’s unimaginable, he said. There will be massacres and famine ahead.
The most hopeful of all was the shopkeeper. Although he didn’t predict massacres and famine, he did forecast protests on the streets like those seen before the war. He said: My expectation is that if conditions don’t improve, people won’t be able to endure this situation. I think this time the protest will be bigger. Whatever the future, dislike of the ruling regime is growing. None of the four expressed any faith in Iran’s cruel and increasingly desperate leaders. The country’s officials only pursue their own interests, said one, and nothing can be expected from them. He offered a short and stark message to the wider world saying: The Islamic Republic is the killer of Iran’s youth.
Opinion about Britain is clearly divided in a country where it is nearly impossible to get a true picture of what is going on abroad. One source was scathing, claiming that Britain has been a supporter of the Islamic Republic, has never supported the Iranian people, and will not be a friend of the Iranian people. The shopkeeper was equally unhappy, stating that Britain has never been with the Iranian people. He believes that Britain and Europe generally live in fear of Iran due to past attacks and assassinations. Conversely, the other two sources were more hopeful regarding British leadership and actions against the regime’s terrorism, while recognizing that all nations ultimately act in their own interests.
