Iranians Fear Escalating Conflict and Human Rights Crisis Amid US Airstrikes and Regime Repression

As US airstrikes hit port and inland cities in Iran, and Tehran strikes at the US’s Middle East allies, the escalating conflict has left many Iranians fearing that, amid war and a worsening human rights crisis, they remain trapped in a cycle of violence and repression with no way out.

Bandar Abbas, on the strait of Hormuz and the headquarters of the Iranian navy, has been hit by strikes every night since the latest escalation began nearly two weeks ago. Soroush*, a writer based in the city who secretly publishes a newsletter documenting human rights violations in Iran, described a “new normal” for its residents.

“We need to accept this could just be our new reality now and it’s worked because we are less afraid as each day goes on,” the 37-year-old said. “We are less afraid of the future because we are now forced to accept this is the new normal. There’s no one coming to save us from the bombs or the regime’s bullets. Our brains have tricked us into making peace with this new reality.”

For those living near the port, loud explosions followed by prolonged power cuts have become the norm over the past week.

Mehnaz*, 39, depends on the internet for her work and says she was already struggling with the government-imposed internet shutdown, which has severely affected her earnings.

“We always had power cuts, but the hours have now extended and I fear I can’t rely on my online work any more. The war is far from the end and daily life is becoming harder under the bombs, power cuts and internet shutdowns. It’s truly hell here,” she said.

Another port city reportedly struck by the US this week was Jask. State media claimed US strikes hit 100 civilian vessels and that an attack on the Bonji desalination plant left 20 villages without drinking water.

Moein*, a resident of Jask, said that although the water supply had been restored, residents were in panic and scrambling to prepare for a long-running war.

“That’s just it. The heat is rising and if we lack water supply due to these attacks, we will die of heat exhaustion and thirst. Supply is back now, but we are now making sure to prepare for future attacks and we have to save as much water as we can.”

A strike in June on water facilities in the coastal city of Sirik also reportedly left thousands of residents rationing water and struggling with daily chores.

Nik Kowsar, a US-based Iranian journalist and water issues analyst, said the war was having a severe impact on civilians – and such concerns did not equate to support for the country’s rulers. “Iranians can despise the regime and want the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] dismantled while still being horrified by attacks that leave ordinary families without water, electricity, medicine or income,” he said.

“Attacking desalination plants in Iran’s hot and dry south is particularly dangerous. When temperatures climb above 40C, losing access to drinking water can quickly become a matter of life and death. Bombing the infrastructure people rely on will not make Iranians embrace those carrying out the attacks. It may weaken the government, but ordinary people pay the immediate price, and the country is left with damage that could take years to repair,” adds Kowsar.

Others who spoke to the Guardian highlighted Iran’s dire human rights situation, with at least 400 people reportedly executed since the beginning of this year, including teenagers, foreign nationals, protesters and former political prisoners. According to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights, hundreds more are believed to be facing capital punishment.

“The US government will now take revenge for its personnel killed by the regime and the regime will in retaliation pick up more teenagers and hang them in revenge for the killing of [Ali] Khamenei,” Soroush said. “This is just the beginning of more Iranian lives being on the line either for the US or the regime. I am deeply saddened and feel helpless.”