On condition of anonymity, some Iranians criticize Saturday’s attack on Israel and want to avoid a new conflict, in which they believe the population will be the first loser.
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Two days after the missile attack sent by Iran towards Israel, the reactions of the different populations. In Iran, the population is divided, between supporters of the regime who applaud this weekend’s response against Israel, and the opposition, reduced to silence, but who fear that the country will be dragged into war. Some also hope that Israel will weaken the mullahs’ regime.
On social networks, videos of scenes of jubilation filmed this weekend in Iran. We see a few hundred people there celebrating the Iranian response against Israel. Young people paid by the regime to take to the streets, according to Omid*, in his thirties. He campaigns against the Islamic Republic. “Virtually no Iranians support this attack on Israel. To be honest, most people I talk to are actually quite supportive of Israel attacking the Revolutionary Guards.”
The fear of a return of war
But Omid now fears that the West will further strengthen their sanctions against his country. “We are already suffering from the economic crisis. European countries think that sanctions weaken our government. It’s stupid! It’s only the population who pays the price.”
Some Iranians also fear the return of war. Mojdeh*, 75, remains traumatized by the conflict against Iraq in the 1980s, which left nearly a million dead. “War brings only destruction, misery, wounded and refugees. I still remember the distress of people during the attacks, the sleepless nights, the fear of bombings. Nobody wants another war !”
And the Iranians are now worried about the Israeli response, and the new cycle of retaliation it will bring to the region.
*Their first names have been changed to protect them.
