Residents of Tehran describe daily life as increasingly tense and uncertain after a month of intense conflict marked by US and Israeli strikes on the Iranian capital, according to reporting from AFP.
For many Tehranis, routines have been upended by the relentless bombardment since the war began on February 28, 2026, forcing people to adapt to a new reality defined by fear, disruption, and anxiety over the future.
Twenty-seven-year-old dental assistant Fatemeh said the highlight of her day is a brief visit to a local café, a small attempt to reclaim normalcy amid ongoing strikes. “It feels like stepping out of this damn war and into an ordinary day,” she told AFP, describing how moments of normal life are now rare and precious.
While some cafés and restaurants remain open and supermarkets report no major shortages, residents say daily life is anything but normal. Security checkpoints dot the city, internet access is limited or slow, and many Tehranis tape windows to prevent damage from nearby explosions.
Another resident, Shahrzad, 39, said she stays home unless absolutely necessary, finding solace only in cooking, but even then, the emotional toll is heavy. “I miss ordinary days … a life where I didn’t have to constantly think about explosions, death, or losing my loved ones,” she said.
Many are gripped by uncertainty over their future and the stability of their economy, as the war’s impact deepens both physical and psychological strain across Iran’s capital.